OPTIMUM DIMENSIONS OF PLATE FINS FOR FIN-TUBE HEAT-EXCHANGERS

Optimum dimensions of the fin for the fin-tube heat exchangers are det ermined in this study for both rectangular and equilateral triangular arrays of tubes. Maximum heat dissipation is obtained for a particular value of pitch length or fin thickness for a fixed fin volume. The op timization is done by the classical derivative method. Based on the ma thematical analysis, design curves have been constructed for the desig n of optimum fins. Finally, it is verified that the concept of equival ent annular fin can be extended to calculate the optimum fin dimension s. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.