Effect of fin spacing on the heat transfer and pressure drop of a two-row plate fin and tube heat exchanger

The analogy between heat and mass transfer (using the naphthalene sublimation technique to measure the mass transfer coefficient) was used to investigate the heat transfer capabilities of various two-row plate fin and tube heat exchanger configurations. Average transfer coefficients were determined from measurements of the mass transferred in an analogical system consisting of a pair of naphthalene plates and an array of spacer discs. The analogical system modelled a typical heat exchanger flow passage. Special attention was given to the effect of fin spacing on heat transfer capabilities. A physical interpretation of the experimental data has been given and new conclusions have been drawn. The pressure drop of the heat exchanger configurations has also been investigated.