EFFECT OF TUBE-TO-TUBE CONDUCTION ON PLATE-FIN AND TUBE HEAT-EXCHANGER PERFORMANCE

We study the effect of heat transfer between the tubes of a plate-fin and tube heat exchanger by conduction through the fins. Fin conduction not only enhances heat transfer to the over-tube fluid, but also incr eases tube-to-tube conduction. A continuum model to evaluate this cond uction is developed and conditions under which it may or may not be ne glected are determined. The effect of parametric variation on the perf ormance of a single-row prate-fin and tube heat exchanger is considere d in some detail. Tube-to-tube conduction is found to degrade the perf ormance of the heat exchanger. It is found that the same heat transfer area distributed in a different number of tubes affects its performan ce. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.