CHAPTER 12

Finned Tube Heat Exchangers

Contents
12.1 Why Finned Tube Heat Exchangers? 247
12.2 What Parameters Inuence the Effectiveness of Finned Tubes? 249
12.3 Finned Tube Calculations 251
12.3.1 Calculation of the n efciency hF 251
12.3.2 Calculation of the weighted n efciency hW 251
12.3.3 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ui for the inner tube surface area
Ai without fouling 253
12.3.4 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Uo based on the outer tube area
Ao without fouling 254
12.3.5 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Uo based on the nned outer surface
area Ao considering the fouling factors ro and ri 255
12.3.6 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ui for the inner tube surface area
Ai considering the fouling factors ro and ri 256
12.3.7 Fouling and Temperature Gradient 256
12.3.8 Comparison of the specic heat duties Ui ! Ai (W/m K) of different tubes 258
12.4 Application Examples 259
References 264

12.1 WHY FINNED TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS?

Finned tubes are used if the heat transfer coefcient on the outside of the tubes is very
much lower than the heat transfer coefcient inside the tubes. The key point for the
heat transfer coefcient is the heat conduction through the boundary layer d on the tube.
l ! "
a W=m2 K
d
In media having poor heat conductivity l, for instance, gases or for high viscous
materials with larger boundary lm thickness d, the heat load Q can be improved by
an outer area enlargement.
Q ao ! Ao ! Dto ai ! Ai ! Dti
The required area ratio considering the fouling factors is calculated as follows:
# $ 1
Ao a ro
# 1o
Ai req ai ri

Heat Exchanger Design Guide 2016 Elsevier Inc.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803764-5.00012-2 All rights reserved. 247
248 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

Ao outer surface area of the tube (m2/m)

Ai inner surface area of the tube (m2/m)
ao outer heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
ai inner heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
ro outer fouling factor
ri inner fouling factor

Example 1: Calculation of the required area ratio

% %
a0 100 W m2 K ai 1000 W m2 K r0 0:0001 ri 0:0002
# $ 1 0:0001
Ao
100
1 8:5
Ai req 1000 0:0002

Due to the poor outer heat transfer coefcient, the outer surface area should be larger than the inner
surface tube area by 8.5!
Advantages of nned tubes
higher heat load per m tube or per construction volume
smaller equipment dimensions/less tubes
smaller ow cross-section in the tubes/better heat transfer
less pressure loss
A distinction is made between the following types of nned tubes:
high-nned cross-nned tubes with nned heights of 10e16 mm
high-nned longitudinal-nned tubes with nned heights of 12.7e25 mm
low-nned cross-nned tubes with nned heights of 1.5e3 mm
The high-nned cross-nned tubes are used in air coolers and gas heat exchangers.
The longitudinal-nned tubes are used as vessel heater or in double pipe heat exchangers for high
viscous media, for instance oil or bitumen, becausedas opposed to the cross-nned tubesdthe distances
between the ns are much greater than the laminar boundary layer on the tube so that a ow between the
ns is possible.
For a face ow length of 10 mm, the following laminar boundary layer thickness results depending on
the Reynolds number Re at plates:
Re 100 j d 4:64 mm
Re 200 j d 3:28 mm
Re 500 j d 2:07 mm
The n spacing must be larger than the boundary layer thickness! Low-nned tubes are used to increase
the efciency in existing heat exchangers or to reduce the size of the equipment, for instance, for the
refrigerant evaporation and condensation or for the decrease of the construction heights of heating
bundles.
At convective heat transfer on the shell side, the Reynolds number should be >500.
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 249

12.2 WHAT PARAMETERS INFLUENCE THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF FINNED TUBES?
In Figure 12.1, it can be seen how strong the outer surface area of a tube with 20 mm
inner diameter increases depending on the n height.
With increasing n height, however, the n efciency hF, which includes the tem-
perature drop from the core tube up to the n tip falls.
This is shown in Figure 12.2. It can also be seen how strong the heat conductivity of
the n material has an inuence on the n efciency.
The different curves for various ao-values in Figure 12.3 show the inuence of the
outer heat transfer coefcient ao on the n efciency hF.

Figure 12.1 Outer tube surface area as a function of the n height for a core tube diameter of 20 mm.

Figure 12.2 Fin efciency hF as a function of the n height and the n material.
250 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

Figure 12.3 Fin efciency hF as a function of the n height for different outer heat transfer coefcients
of ao 40e800 W/m2 K.

With increasing n height and a rising ao-value, the n efciency falls.

Larger n heights are only of interest with small heat transfer coefcients on the outer
side of the tubes, for instance, with gases.
Large n heights are economic for small outer heat transfer coefcients up to
ao 50 W/m2 K.
Low-nned tubes have an advantage at higher ao-values up to 1000 W/m2 K.
The deterioration by the n efciency hF of the effective Dt for the heat transfer is
only valid for the n surface area and not for the core tube outer surface area.
This is considered in the weighted n efciency hW, which is lightly better
than the n efciency hF. From economic view, the weighted n efciency should
be >80%.
The following listing shows the use of different steel-nned tubes with an
example:
Heat duty Q 100 kW Dt 50 K ai 3000 W/m2 K
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 251

The required tube length L for the heat duty Q 100 kW is determined for
different ao-values and nned tube types.
ao 50 W/m2 K ao 500 W/m2 K
Type 1: hF 16 mm dC 38 mm L 340 m L 145 m
Type 2: hF 10 mm dC 20 mm L 905 m L 313 m
Type 3: hF 1.5 mm dC 22.2 mm L 1695 m L 317 m
Plain tube L 4348 m L 623 m
25 ! 2

hF n height
dC core tube diameter

12.3 FINNED TUBE CALCULATIONS [1e3]

12.3.1 Calculation of the n efciency hF
tanh X
hF
X
eX % e%X
tanh X
eX e%X
r
2 ! ao
X hF !
bF ! lF
ao outer heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
lF heat conductivity of the n material (W/m K)
bF n width (m)
hF n height (m)
Correction for disk-nned tubes in which XDF is inserted for the calculation of the n
efciency hF instead of X:
# $
dF
XDF X ! 1 0:35 ! ln
dC
dF n diameter (mm)
dC core tube diameter (mm)

12.3.2 Calculation of the weighted n efciency hW

hF ! AF AC
hF
Ao
252 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

Ao total outer surface area AF AC (m2)

AC core tube surface area (m2)
AF n surface area (m2)

Example 2: Calculation of the n efciency for ao 40 W/m2 K

dC 20 mm dF 40 mm Ao 0.55 m2/m
bF 0.3 mm lF 50 W/m K di 16 mm
hF 10 mm AC 0.07 m2/m AF 0.48 m2/m

r
2 ! 40
X ! 0:01 0:7303
0:0003 ! 50
# $
40
XDF 0:7303 ! 1 0:35 ! ln 0:9075 tanh XDF 0:7199
20
tanh X 0:7199
hF 0:7933
X 0:9075
0:7933 ! 0:48 0:07
hW 0:82
0:55

Example 3: The same data as in Example 2, but ao 300 W/m2 K

r
2 ! 300
X 0:01 ! 2
0:0003 ! 50
XDF 2:48
hF 0:3968
0:3968 ! 0:48 0:07
hW 0:4736
0:55

Example 4: The same data as in Example 2, but ao 1000 W/m2 K

r
2 ! 1000
X 0:01 ! 3:65
0:0003 ! 50
XDF 4:5373
hF 0:22 hW 0:32
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 253

12.3.3 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ui for the

inner tube surface area Ai without fouling
1 1 1 s

Ui aoi ai lF
Ao ao
aoi ao ! hF ! ! hF ! AF AC
Ai Ai
Qi Ui ! Ai ! Dt W
ao outer heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
aoi outer heat transfer coefcient based on the core tube surface area
ai inner heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
lt heat conductivity of the core tube (W/m K)
s tube wall thickness of the core tube (m)
Dt driving temperature gradient (K)
Qi heat duty in relation to the inner tube surface area (W)

Example 5: Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ui based on the

tube inner surface area Ai per m tube without fouling consideration
ai 3000 W/m2 K s 2 mm lt 50 W/m K Dt 30 K
Ai 0.05 m2/m Ao 0.55 m2/m Ao/Ai 11

1. ao 40 W/m2 K hF 0.7933 hW 0.82

Ao %
aoi ao ! hW ! 40 ! 0:82 ! 11 360 W m2 K
Ai
ao 40 %
aoi ! hF ! AF AC ! 0:7933 ! 0:48 0:07 360 W m2 K
Ai 0:05
1 1 1 0:002
0:0032
Ui 360 3000 50
%
Ui 317 W m2 K
Qi Ui ! Ai ! Dt 317 ! 0:05 ! 30 475:5 W=m tube

2. ao 300 W/m2 K hW 0.4736

%
aoi 300 ! 0:4736 ! 11 1563 W m2 K
1 1 1 0:002 %
0:001 Ui 987 W m2 K
Ui 1563 3000 50
Qi 987 ! 30 ! 0:05 1480:5 W=m tube
254 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

3. ao 1000 W/m2 K hW 0.32

%
aoi 1000 ! 0:32 ! 11 3520 W m2 K
1 1 1 0:002 %
0:0007 Ui 1521 W m2 K
Ui 3520 3000 50
Qi 1521 ! 30 ! 0:05 2281:5 W=m tube

12.3.4 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Uo based

on the outer tube area Ao without fouling
# $
1 1 Ao s 1
!
Uo aoW Ai l ai
# $
AF ao
aoW ao ! 1 % 1 % hF ! ! hF ! AF AC ao ! hW
Ao Ao
Qo Uo ! Ao ! Dt W
ao outer heat transfer coefcient (W/m2 K)
aoW weighted outer heat transfer coefcient under consideration of the n ef-
ciency for the n surface area
Qa heat duty based on the outer tube surface area (W)
Ai Ao
Uo U i ! Ui Uo !
Ao Ai

Example 6: Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ua based on the

outer tube surface area per m tube without fouling consideration
Data as in Example 5

1. ao 40 W/m2 K hF 0.7933
# # $$
0:48 %
aoW 40 ! 1 % 1 % 0:7933 ! 32:8 W m2 K
0:55
# $
1 1 0:55 0:002 1
! 0:0346
Uo 32:8 0:05 50 3000
% %
Ua 28:82 W m2 K Fo 0:55 m2 m tube
Qo 28:82 ! 30 ! 0:55 475:5 W=m tube
Conversion:
%
Ui Uo ! Ao =Ai 28:82 ! 11 317 W m2 K
Qi 317 ! 30 ! 0:05 475:5 W=m tube
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 255

2. aA 300 W/m2 K hR 0.3963

# $
0:48 %
aoW 300 ! 1 % 1 % 0:3963 ! 141:9 W m2 K
0:55
# $
1 1 0:55 0:002 1
! 0:0112
Uo 141:9 0:05 50 3000
Uo 89.72 W/m2 K
Qa 89.72 ! 30 ! 0.55 1480.4 W/m tube
%
Conversion : Ui 89:72 ! 11 986:9 W m2 K
Qi 986:9 ! 30 ! 0:05 1480:35 W=m tube

12.3.5 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Uo based on

the nned outer surface area Ao considering the fouling factors
ro and ri
1
ro # $
1 ao Ao 1 sW
! ri !
Uo hF Ai ai lW
# $
1 1 ro Ao 1 sW
! ri
Uo aoW hW Ai ai lW
Qa Ua ! AA ! Dt

Example 7: Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ua considering

fouling
ao 800 W/m2 K ai 6000 W/m2 K
Ao 0.207 m2/m Ao/Ai 3.27 hW 0.9368
ro ri 0.00015 sW 1 mm lW 50 W/m K
Dt 25 K
%
800 ! 0:9368 749:4 W m2 K
aoW ao ! hW
# $
1 1 0:00015 1 0:001
3:27 ! 0:00015 0:0026
Uo 749:4 0:9368 6000 50
Uo 385.3 W/m2 K
Qo Uo ! Ao ! Dt 385:3 ! 0:207 ! 25 1994 W=m tube
256 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

12.3.6 Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Ui for the

inner tube surface area Ai considering the fouling factors ro
and ri
# $
1 1 ro Ai 1 sW
! ri
Ui aoi hW Ao ai lW
Qi Ui ! Ai ! Dt

Example 8: Calculation of Ui considering fouling data as in Example 7

Ao %
aoi ao ! hW ! 800 ! 0:9368 ! 3:27 2450:6 W m2 K
Ai
# $
1 1 0:00015 1 1 0:001
! 0:00015 0:0008
Ui 2450:6 0:9368 3:27 6000 50
Ui 1259.9 W/m2 K
Qi Ui ! Ai ! Dt 1259:9 ! 0:0633 ! 25 1994 W=m tube
Conversion:
Ai 1 %
Uo Ui ! 1259:9 ! 385:3 W m2 K
Ao 3:27
Qo Uo ! Ao ! Dt 385:3 ! 0:207 ! 25 1994 W=m tube

12.3.7 Fouling and Temperature Gradient

A further advantage of n tubes is the smaller temperature drop by foulings on the
enlarged outer tube surface area FA. The fouling does not have such a strong effect as
with plain tubes.
q q
Dtro ro ! K Dtri ri ! K
Ao Ai
Dtro temperature drop by fouling on Ao
Dtri temperature drop by fouling on Ai
q heat ux density (W/m tube)
Since the surface area of nned tubes is much larger than the surface area of the inner
tube the fouling effect on the outer side is considerably less.

Example 9: Calculation of the temperature drop by fouling

Ao 0.207 m2/m Ai 0.0638 m2/m
ro ri 0.0002 Uo 531 W/m2 K Dt 25 K
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 257

Q Uo ! Ao ! Dt 531 ! 0:207 ! 25 2748 W=m tube

2748
Dtro 0:0002 ! 2:6 K
0:207
2748
Dtri 0:0002 ! 8:6 K
0:0638
The temperature drop on the large outer surface area is much smaller!
The temperature gradient at the outer side is also reduced due to the larger outer surface area.
The temperature difference between the wall and the medium is smaller so that a more careful
heating with less Dt is possible, or at high temperatures on the tube outer side the material is treated
carefully.

Example 10: Calculation of the temperature gradients for plain tube and nned
tube
Q 500 kW ao 800 W/m2 K ai 6000 W/m2 K
ro ri 0.00015 sW 1 mm lW 50 W/m K Dt 25 K

1. Plain tube: 25 ! 1 Fo 0.07854 m2/m Ao/Ai 1.087

# $
1 1 0:001 1
0:00015 1:087 ! 0:00015
Uo 800 50 6000
Uo 566.8 W/m2 K
q Uo ! Dt 566.8 ! 25 14,170 W/m2
14170
Dtao 17:71 ( K
800
Dtro 0:00015 ! 14170 2:13 ( K
14170
Dtai ! 1:087 2:57 ( K
6000
Dtri 0:00015 ! 14170 ! 1:087 2:31 ( K
0:001
DtW ! 14170 0:28 ( K
50
2. Finned tube Trun S/T

Ao 0.207 m2/m Ao/Ai 3.27 hW 0.9368

1 # $
1 0:00015 1 0:001
800 3:27 ! 0:00015
Uo 0:9368 6000 50
% 2
U 385:3 W m K
%
q Uo ! Dt 385:3 ! 25 9632:5 W m2
258 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

9632:5
Dtao 12:85 ( K
800 ! 0:9368
0:00015 ! 0632:5
Dtro 1:55 ( K
0:9368
9632:5
Dtai ! 3:27 5:25 ( K
6000
Dtri 0:00015 ! 9632:5 ! 3:27 4:72 ( K
0:001
DtW ! 9632:5 ! 3:27 0:63 ( K
50
Dtao temperature gradient for ao
Dtai temperature gradient for ai
Dtro temperature gradient for the outer fouling ro
Dtri temperature gradient for the inner fouling ri
DtW temperature gradient for the heat conductivity through the wall

12.3.8 Comparison of the specic heat duties Ui ! Ai (W/m K)

of different tubes
In Figure 12.4, the specic heat duties per m tube of different tubes as a function of the
outer heat transfer coefcient are shown.
The curves are valid for an inner heat transfer coefcient of ai 3000 W/m2 K in the
tube.
Plain steel tubes 25 ! 2 made, Ao/Ai 1.19
Low-nned Trun tubes 22.2 ! 1.65 with 1.5 mm steel n height, Ao/Ai 3.6
High-nned Applin tubes 20 ! 2 with 10 mm n height, Ao/Ai 11
It can be clearly seen that by the nning, the heat duty can be increased.

Figure 12.4 Heat load (W/m K) as a function of the outer heat transfer coefcients.
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 259

The advantage is seen with the high-nned tubes in the area of lower outer heat
transfer coefcients and also the possibilities for an increase of the efciency by the use
of low-nned tubes in the area of higher outer heat transfer coefcients.

12.4 APPLICATION EXAMPLES

From the discussions so far, it follows that nned tubes are preferably applied if a low heat
transfer coefcient should be compensated by a large surface area. From the following
calculated examples, the preferred application of different n tube types for specic tasks
results:
From Example 11, the advantages of low-nned tubes for heating bundles for the
evaporation if low construction heights and low bundle widths are desired result.
Example 12 emphasizes the advantages of longitudinal n tubes for heating coils for
heating storage tanks, because the heat transfer by natural convection is very poor.
From Example 13, it is clear that the high-nned cross-nned tubes are suitable for
the gas cooling or heating.
In Example 14, it is shown that double-tube heat exchangers with nned tubes and
multitube heat exchangers are very suitable for high viscous and gaseous media,
because in small room large duties are possible [4].

Example 11: Evaporator heating bundle for a distillation still without

consideration of fouling and the heat conduction resistance of the tube wall
Q 500 kW ai 6000 W/m2 K ao 800 W/m2 K Dt 25 K
2
1. With plain tubes 25 ! 1 L 4 m Ao 0.0785 m /m
1 1 25 1 %
! Uo 699 W m2 K
Uo 6000 23 800
Q 500;000
Areq 28:6 m2 364 m tube DN 25
U ! Dt 699 ! 25
Arrangement: 91 Rohre, 4 m long, pitch 32 mm
Bundle width B 90 ! 32 25 2905 mm

2. With low-nned Trun tubes S/T 60-197042

do 25.4 mm hF 1.5 mm bF 0.3 mm lF 50 W/m K
Ao 0.207 m2/m Ao/Ai 3.27 dF/dC 1.135
X 0.4898 XDF 0.5116 hF 0.921 h 0.9368
% W
aoW hW ! ao 0:9368 ! 800 749:4 W m2 K
1 1 1 %
! 3:27 Uo 532 W m2 K
Uo 749:4 6000
500;000
Areq 37:6 m2 182 m tube DN 25
532 ! 25
Arrangement: 46 tubes, 4 m long, pitch 32 mm
Bundle width B 45 ! 32 25.4 1465.4 mm
260 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

3. Longitudinal-nned tubes, dC 25.4 mm, with 20 longitudinal ns 12.7 mm high,

bF 0.81 mm Ao 0.5869 m2/m Ao/Ai 8.838

X 2.52 hF 0.391 hW 0.4559 aoW 364.7 W/m2 K
1 1 1 % 2
! 8:838 Uo 237 W m K
Uo 364:7 6000
500;000
Areq 84:4 m2 144 m tube
237 ! 25
Arrangement: 36 tubes, 4 m long, pitch 66 mm
Bundle width B 35 ! 66 50.8 2360.8 mm
Corollary: The smallest bundle results by applying the low-nned tubes!

Example 12: Heating bundle for the heating of a product in a storage tank with
10 m diameter without considering the fouling and the heat conduction
resistance of the tube wall
Q 200 kW ai 6000 W/m2 K ao 50 W/m2 K Dt 50 K
Tube data as in Example 11.

1. With plain tubes 25 ! 1 Ao 0.0785 m2

1 1 25 1 %
! Uo 49:5 W m2 K
Uo 6000 23 50
200;000
Areq 80:8 m2 1029 m pipe DN 25
49:5 ! 50
Arrangement: 128 tubes, 8 m long, single pass

2. With Trun-nned tubes Ao 0.207 m2/m Ao/Ai 3.27

X 0.122 XDF 0.1279 hF 0.9945 hW 0.9957
aAW 0.9957 ! 50 49.8 W/m2 K
1 1 1 %
! 3:27 Uo 48:5 W m2 K
Uo 49:8 6000
200;000
Areq 82:5 m2 398 m pipe
48:5 ! 50
Arrangement: 50 tubes, 8 m long, single pass
3. With longitudinal-nned tubes
dC 25.4 mm hF 12.7 mm Ao 0.5869 m2/m Ao/Ai 8.838
hF 0.885 hW 0.897 aoW 0.897 ! 50 44.85 W/m2 K
1 1 1 %
8:838 ! Uo 42 W m2 K
Uo 44:85 6000
200;000
Areq 95:2 m2 162 m pipe
42 ! 50
Arrangement: 20 tubes, 8 m long, single pass
Recommendation: Heating bundle consisting of longitudinal-nned tubes
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 261

Example 13: Gas cooling in a cross ow bundle with cooling water in the tubes
ai 5000 W/m2 K in the tubes
Gas ow rate VShell 904,000 m3/h Q 8 Mio W Dt 40 K
Allowable pressure loss 3.8 mbar
Allowable bundle width 6 m
Properties of the gases: 9 0.885 kg/m3 l 0.0332 W/m K
n 25 mm2/s Pr 0.68
1. With plain tubes 38 ! 3.6 without fouling
Estimation of the required area A with U 90 W/m2 K:

Q 8 ! 106
A 2222 m2
U ! Dt 90 ! 40
Lreq 19;000 m 3166 tubes with L 6 m
Due to the low allowable pressure losses, an aligning arrangement with PC PL 2 ! da 76 mm is
chosen.
PC cross pitch of the tubes
PL longitudinal pitch of the tubes
Arrangement: 100 tubes one over the other, 6 m long, 36 tube rows one behind the other, aligned
arrangement

Total tube length 100 ! 36 ! 6 21,600 m Bundle length L 6 m

Total surface area 2578 m2 Bundle height H 7.6 m
Bundle cross-sectional area Abundle 6 ! 7.6 45.6 m2 (width ! height)

Free ow cross-sectional area Afree for the gas through the tube bundle:
PC % do 76 % 38
Afree !H!L ! 7:6 ! 6 22:8 m2
PC 76
904;000
wgas 11 m=s
22:8 ! 3600
wgas ! do 11 ! 0:038
Re 16; 720
n 25 ! 10%6
Pressure loss calculation according to Jakob (Section 11.3): z 0.189

w2 ! r 11 ! 0:88
DP ! nR ! z ! 36 ! 0:189 362 Pa
2 2
Heat transfer calculation according to Grimison (Section 11.3):

Nu 0:229 ! 16;7200:632 ! 1 106:8

106:8 ! 0:0332 %
a 93:3 W m2 K
0:038
Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient for steam heating with ai 5000 W/m2 K:
30:8 %
aio 5000 ! 4428 W m2 K
38
1 1 1 0:0036
0:0011
U 4428 93:3 50
262 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

U 90.7 W/m2 K

Heat duty Q: Q k ! A ! Dt 90.7 ! 2578 ! 40 9.35 W

Required heat duty Qreq 8 Mio W Fouling reserve: 16.9%
Bundle dimensions: Height 7.6 m Width 6 m Depth 2.7 m
2. With nned tubes Applin 95,725 without fouling

Outer surface area Ao 1.5 m2/m dC 25.4 mm dF 57.2 mm

Cross pitch PC 57.2 mm Longitudinal pitch PL 49.5 mm, staggered
Arrangement: 153 tubes one over the other, 6 m long, ve rows one behind the other

Total tube length Ltot 153 ! 6 ! 5 4590 m tube Total surface area A 6885 m2
2 2
Abundle 7.6 ! 6 45.6 m fproj 0.03 m /m tube Afree 45.6 ! 6 ! 0.03 18 m2
904;000 13:95 ! 0:0254
w 13:95 m=s Re 14; 174
3600 ! 18 25 ! 10%6
Pressure loss calculation with z 0.8 from manufacturer data

13:952 ! 0:88
DP ! 5 ! 0:8 343 Pa
2
Calculation of the heat transfer coefcients according to manufacturer data:
Nu
0:37 ! Re0:553 ! fR 0:37 ! 14;1740:553 ! 1 73:1
Pr1=3
Nu 73:1 ! 0:680:33 64:4
64:4 ! 0:0332 %
ao 84:2 W m2 K
0:0254
Calculation of the n efciency:
r
2 ! 84:2
X 0:0159 ! 1:459 XDF 1:8735 hF 0:5092
50 ! 0:0004
0:5092 ! 1:46 0:04
hW 0:5222
1:5
%
aoW 0:5222 ! 84:2 44 W m2 K

Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient:

ai 4000 W/m2 K aoW 44 W/m2 K effective a-value shell side

# $
1 1 0:0025 1 %
23:5 ! 0:0298 U 33:6 W m2 K
U 44 50 4000
Heat duty Q 33:6 ! 6885 ! 40 9:25 Mio W

Required heat load: Qreq 8 Mio W Reserve: 15.7%

Bundle dimensions: Height: 7.6 m Width: 6 m Depth: 255.2 mm
 Finned Tube Heat Exchangers 263

Comparison between plain tube and nned tube:

Plain tube Finned tube

Height (m) 7.6 7.6
Width (m) 6,- 6
Depth (m) 2.7 0.255
Tube length (m) 21,600 4590
Surface area (m2) 2578 6885
Corollary: By the use of nned tubes, the tube length can be reduced from 21,600 to 4590 m and the
bundle depth from 2.7 to 0.26 m.

Example 14: Double pipe oil cooler with an inner longitudinal-nned tube
Pipe shell with Di 77.9 mm Ao/Ai 5.5
Inner tube with longitudinal ns: do 48.2 mm, n height 12.7 mm, surface area 0.76 m2/m
Tube-side product: cooling water

Required heat load Qreq 7 kW Effective Dt 23 ( C

sW 2 mm lW 59 W/m K ra ri 0.0001
Shell side product rate VShell 3.5 m3/h Flow cross-section Afree 0.0026 m2
Flow velocity wShell 0.374 m/s.

Oil data: r 846 kg/m3 c 0.58 Wh/kg K l 0.131 W/m K n 19 mm2/s

3600 ! 19 ! 10%6 ! 0:58 ! 846
Pr 256
0:131
0:374 ! 0:0104
Re 204:7/Laminar Flow
19 ! 10%6
Calculation of the heat transfer coefcient:
# $
0:0104 1=3
Nu 1:86 ! 204:7 ! 256 ! 8:36
6
8:36 ! 0:131 %
ao 105 W m2 K
0:0104
r
2 ! 105
X 0:0127 ! 0:823 hF 0:822
0:001 ! 50
0:822 ! 0:61 0:15
hW 0:857
0:76
%
aoW 0:857 ! 105 90 W m2 K

Tube side: 3 m3/h cooling water.

di 44.6 mm wT 0.54 m/s Pr 6.94 l 0.604 W/m K

0:54 ! 0:0442
Re 23;868
1 ! 10%6
Nu 0:023 ! 23;8680:8 ! 6:941=3 139:45
139:45 ! 0:604 %
aT 1905 W m2 K
0:0442
264 Heat Exchanger Design Guide

Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient Uo:

# $
1 1 ro Ao 1 sW
! ri
Uo aoW hW Ai a i lW
# $
1 1 0:0001 0:002 1 %
5:5 ! 0:0001 Uo 68:1 W m2 K
Uo 90 0:857 59 1905
7000
Required area Areq 4:47 m2
23 ! 68:1
4:47
Required tube length Lreq 5:88 m pipe
0:76
Alternative calculation for a multipipe heat exchanger with plain tubes:
Shell diameter Di 84 mm with seven inner tubes 20 ! 2
Shell side: 3.5 m3/h oil

Flow cross-section De 0.0304 m Surface area 0.4398 m2/m

fShell 0.0033 m2
wShell 0.295 m/s Re 471
# $
0:0304
Nu 1:86 ! 471 ! 256 ! 15:78
6
15:78 ! 0:131 2
ao 68 W=m K
0:0304

Tube side: 3 m3/h cooling water wT 0.59 m/s Re 18,009

Nu 111.3 ai 4202 W/m2 K aio 3362 W/m2 K
Calculation of the overall heat transfer coefcient U:
1 1 1 0:002
0:0002
U 3362 68 50
%
U 65:6 W m2 K
7000
Required area Areq 4:64 m2
65:6 ! 23
4:64
Required length Lreq 10:6 m
0:4398

REFERENCES
[1] D.Q. Kern, A.D. Kraus, Extended Surface Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1972.
[2] Th.E. Schmidt, Kaltetechnik 18 (4) (1966) 135e138.
[3] W.M. Kays, A.L. London, Compact Heat Exchangers, McGraw-Hill, N.Y., 1964.
[4] G.P. Purohit, Thermal and hydraulic design of hairpin and nned-bundle exchangers, Chem. Eng., 90
(1983) 62e70.