Experimental determination of heat transfer and flow friction characteristics for several plate fin type compact heat exchanger surfaces

Abstract

In this report, the heat transfer and isothermal flow friction characteristics for seven compact heat exchanger surfaces are presented and compared. Five of the surfaces were of a similar triangular fin configuration, differing in material and method of construction, and one of the surfaces, having been tested previously, were of a modified rectangular passage configuration. The modified rectangular passage surfaces showed better overall performance that the triangular fin surfaces, and matrices constructed from perforated material showed better overall performance than similar surfaces constructed from non-perforated material. For similar matrix configurations, small variations in manufacturing procedure had little effect upon heat transfer and flow friction performance. The heat transfer data was obtained by means of the single-blow transient testing technique. A cylic method of transient testing was also investigated, and found to be both reliable and useful in that the additional method of testing extends the Reynolds number range for the experimental apparatus.