EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

Experiment number 3
Experiment name Finned Tube Heat Exchanger
Group 8
Roll numbers 213170007,213170008,213170010
Experiment date 24-08-2021

1. Assumptions and formulae :1 mark

Assumptions used-

The heat exchanger used is assumed to have insulated tip. Though this condition
cannot be realized in practice, but we consider that the tip area is
negligible compared to the total fin area. So, the heat dissipated from
the tip can be neglected and hence, [dT/dx] is assumed to be zero at
the tip.

Formulae used-

Most of the fins are treated under the above category and longitudinal fin efficiency
for this case is given by the expression:

a)

tanh (mL)
ɳ fin =
mL

Where,

m = J x (hC) / (KA)
h = film heat transfer coefficients from the fin surface [kcal/h-m2-oC]
C = Circumference of the fin [m]
K = thermal conductivity of fin material [kcal/hm2oC]
A = cross sectional area of fin [m2]

b) Circumference of fin (C):

C = 2x(W+b)

where, W=Width of fin

b = Thickness of fin
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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

c) Cross-sectional area of fin (A):

A = Wxb

d) Fin area available for heat transfer:

AF = CxLxN

Where, L= length of tube

N=No. of fins

e) Tube area available for heat transfer in finned tube heat exchanger:
Ab = [(π x D) - (N x b)] x W
Where, D= Outer diameter of fin tube

f) Total area of finned tube heat exchanger:

At = AF+Ab

2. Sample Calculations -
Given data-
Finned Tube:

1. Height of fin (L) : 0.05 m

2. Width of fin (W) : 0.5 m

3. Thickness of fin (b) : 0.003 m

4. Number of fins (N) : 4

5. O.D. of fin tube (D) : 0.025 m.

◦
6. Thermal conductivity of fin material (K) : 15.0 kcal/h-m- C

Bare Tube:

1. Length of tube (l) : 0.6 m

2. O.D. of tube (d) : 0.025 m

3. Tambient 26 ◦C

Now,
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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

a) Circumference of fin (C):

C = 2x(W+b)=2x(0.5+0.003)=1.006 m

b) Cross-sectional area of fin (A):

A = Wxb= (0.5x0.003)= 0.0015 m2

c) Fin area available for heat transfer:

AF = CxLxN =1.006 x 0.05 x 4 = 0.2012 m2

d) Tube area available for heat transfer in finned tube heat exchanger:
Ab = [(π x D) - (N x b)] x W =[(π x 0.025)- (4 x 0.003)] x 0.5 =0.03327 m2

e) Total area of finned tube heat exchanger:

At = AF+Ab = 0.2021 + 0.03327 = 0.23447 m2

Now , using readings 3rd set of readings for Group8, as per table =

m1=70.5 ml= 70.5 x 10-3 lt, t=15/60 =0.25 hr., density of water =1kg/lt.

m2=22 ml= 22 x 10-3 lt, t=15/60 =0.25 hr., density of water =1kg/lt

Tsteam = 108 0C, Tambient = 26 0C

λ = latent heat of vaporization of water at steam pressure = 540 kcal/kg

f) Heat given out by steam through finned tube heat exchanger (Q1):

Q1 = (m1 /t)λ, Q1 = [(70.5 x 10-3 lt. x 1kg/lt )/ (0.25 hr)]* 540 kCal/kg

Q1 =152.28 kCal/hr

g) Heat given out by steam through bare tube (Q2):

Q2 = (m2 /t)λ, Q2 = [(22 x 10-3 lt. x 1kg/lt )/ (0.25 hr)]* 540 kCal/kg

Q2 =47.52 kCal/hr

h) Area available for heat transfer of bare tube

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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

Abare tube = (πdl) =π x 0.025 x 0.6 m2 = 0.047124 m2

i) Film heat transfer co-efficient from bare tube (h):

h= (Q2 / Ab x ΔT) = (47.52/0.047124 x 82) = 12.29 kcal/h-m2-°C

j) ΔT = Tsteam – Tambient= (108-26 )°C = 82°C

k) m = √ hC /kA = √ 12.29 x 1.006/15 x 0.0015 =23.44 m-1

l) mL (value for fin) = 23.44 x 0.05 = 1.172

m)

tanh(mL)
ɳ fin (theoretical)=
mL

tanh(1.172)
ɳ fin (theoretical)=
1.172

=(0.824912/1.172)x 100

= 70.38 %

n) Amount of heat actually dissipated by the fin:

QFin = Q1 – (AbhΔT)= kcal/h

=(152.28) - (0.03327 x 12.29 x 82)

=118.75 kCal/hr

o) Amount of heat that can be dissipated by deal fin:

Qideal= AFhΔT

=0.2012 x 12.29x 82

=202.76 kCal/hr

p) Observed value of fin efficiency:

Q Actual Fin
ɳ fin (Observed )=
Qideal Fin
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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

118. 75
ɳ fin (Observed )=
202.76

= 58.56%

3. Table of Results:

Seam Temperature
Fine tube heat exchanger Bar tube Heat Exchanger T(Degree Celsius)
Sr. No Amount of Amount of
Time Interval, t Time Interval, t
condensate condensate
(min) (min)
collected, m1 (ml) collected, m2 (ml)
1 51.5 15 28 15 104
2 85 15 27 15 111
3 70.5 15 22 15 108
4 65.5 15 21 15 108
5 60.5 15 21 15 106

Fine Tube Heat Exchanger

120
Amt of condensate/ Steam Temp.

100

80 Amount of condensate
collected, m1 (ml)
60
Seam Temperature
T(Degree Celsius)
40

20

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (in min.)

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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

Bar Tube Heat Exchanger

120
Amt of condensate/ Steam Temp.

100

80 Amount of condensate
collected, m2 (ml)
60
Seam Temperature
T(Degree Celsius)
40

20

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time Interval (in min.)

4. Key observations, discussion (including answers to the questions in the manual), and
conclusion [2 marks]
Key Observations-

5. Discussion-

6. Conclusion-

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 EN 609 Energy Systems Lab

Lab Report, DESE, IIT Bombay

7. Your suggestions to improve the overall experiment including the set-up, the manual, etc.
[1 mark]

8. Table of readings [1 mark]

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