An experimental comparison of enhanced heat transfer condenser tubing
Series: NPS 69-78-015
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1978
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Subjects: Mechanical engineering
Description: Ten 15.9 mm (5/8 in.) nominal outside diameter geometrically enhanced tubes of different metals were tested to determine their heat transfer and hydrodynamic performance. Results were compared to smooth copper-nickel tubes. Steam at about 21kPa (3 psia) was condensed on the outside surface of each enhanced tube, horizontally mounted in the center of a dummy tube bank. Each tube was cooled on the inside by water at velocities of 2.7 to 7.6 m/sec (3 to 25 ft/sec). The overall heat transfer coefficient was determined from experimental data. The inside heat transfer coefficients were determined using the Wilson plot technique. Friction factor in the enhanced section was determined from the cooling water pressure drop. Enhanced geometries (utilizing pitch, helix angle and groove depth) were found to improve the corrected overall heat transfer coefficient by as much as 2 times that for smooth tubes. Use of enhanced tubes in place of smooth tubes will permit a decrease in condenser tube surface area from 17 to 53 percent for constant heat loads and constant pumping power. (Author)
Notes: Thesis (M.S. in M.E.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 1978. Issued as Naval Postgraduate School Technical Report NPS 69-78-015.

Bibliography: l. 172-173.