Condensate retention model for plain-fin heat exchangers

A. I. Elsherbini, A. M. Jacobi

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

A model has been developed for predicting the amount of condensate retained as drops on the air-side of heat exchangers operating under dehumidifying conditions. For a coil with a given surface wettability, characterized by the advancing contact angle, the maximum diameter for a retained drop is obtained from a balance between gravitational and surface tension forces. A logarithmic function is used to describe the size-distribution of drops on fins, based on the fraction of fin-area covered by liquid. The volumes of individual drops are calculated by a geometric method for approximating the three dimensional shapes of drops on vertical and inclined surfaces. The total volume of condensate accumulated on a coil is then found by multiplying the size-distribution and volume functions and integrating over all drop diameters. The model is successful in predicting measurements by other researchers of the mass of condensate retained on plain-fin heat exchangers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages203-210
Number of pages8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004
EventProceedings of the ASME Heat Transfer/Fluids Engineering Summer Conference 2004, HT/FED 2004 - Charlotte, NC, United States
Duration: Jul 11 2004Jul 15 2004

Other

OtherProceedings of the ASME Heat Transfer/Fluids Engineering Summer Conference 2004, HT/FED 2004
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCharlotte, NC
Period7/11/047/15/04

Keywords

  • Condensation
  • Heat exchangers
  • Retention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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