COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE Aspen HTFS+ HANDBOOK

AM1: Airside Heat Transfer Coefficients for

Staggered and In-Line Arrays of Finned Tubes

1 INTRODUCTION
This sheet describes how to calculate the airside heat-transfer coefficient for
flow across bundles of finned tubes. The heat-transfer coefficient is based upon
the total fin-side surface area, and requires correction as described in sheet AM7.
The methods supplied here are for helically-wound fins which are either plain or
serrated (cut). Continuous plate fins are not considered, but are dealt with on
sheet ZM2. The correlations used were obtained by PFR (1976) and are for a
minimum of two tube rows crossed.
The heat-transfer characteristics of finned tube bundles can vary with small
geometrical changes and manufacturing techniques, which affect surface
roughness. Hence, it is possible to obtain different data from nominally identical
bundles, which have been produced by different manufacturers. It is
recommended, therefore, that the applicable data of a reputable manufacturer
should be used wherever possible. The intent of this sheet is only to provide
guidance in the absence of such data.

2 DATA REQUIRED
The following data are required:
(1) The geometry and dimensions of the finned tube bundle (as described in
section 2 of sheet AM3).
(2) The maximum mass velocity, m& max (kgm-2s-1) based on the minimum flow
area, Smin (m2) - calculated as per section 3 of sheet AM3, using the total air
mass flowrate M& (kg s-1).
(3) Physical properties of air at the applicable (mean) temperature:
cp = specific heat (J kg-1K-1)
η = dynamic viscosity (Nsm-2)
λ = thermal conductivity (Wm-1K-1)

3 METHOD
3.1 Round Tube, Helical Round Smooth Fins
The steps in the calculation are:
(1) Calculate the Reynolds number ReD, based on the fin root diameter DR (m)
as follows:
m& max D R (1)
Re D =
η
(2) Calculate the area ratio Ar, which expresses the ratio of the overall
extended surface area to the area of the base tube.
⎧ (H + s ) ⎫ (2)
Ar = 1 + 2 n F H ⎨1 + ⎬
⎩ DR ⎭

AM1 (Amended January 2002) -1-

COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE Aspen HTFS+ HANDBOOK

where
nF = fin frequency (number of fins per unit length) (m-1)
H = fin height = 0.5 (DF – DR) (m)
s = fin thickness (m)
(3) Calculate the j-factor for round fins:
jR = 0.29 ReD-0.367 Ar-0.17 (3)
(4) Evaluate the Prandtl number at the mean temperature on the airside:
cp η
Pr = (4)
λ
(5) Calculate the uncorrected average convective heat-transfer coefficient, αa
(Wm-2K-1), referred to the total airside heat-transfer area.
α a = jR cp m
& max Pr − 2 3 (5)

(6) For in-line (as opposed to staggered) tube arrangements, multiply jR or αa

by a factor of 0.67 for helical round smooth fins.
(7) Correct the coefficient obtained from the above procedure for fin efficiency
and surface effectiveness, as shown in sheet AM7.
3.2 Serrated or Cut Fins
The steps in the calculation are:
(1) Calculate the Reynolds number, ReD, in the same way as for equation (1)
above.
(2) Calculate Ar as per equation (2) above.
(3) Calculate the j-factor for serrated fins, thus:
js = 0.195 Re-0.3 Ar-0.17 (6)
(4) Evaluate the mean airside Prandtl number from equation (4) above.
(5) Calculate the uncorrected average convective heat transfer coefficient, αa
(Wm-2K-1) referred to the total airside heat-transfer area.
α a = jS c p m
& max Pr − 2 3 (7)

(6) For in-line tube arrangements, multiply jS or αa by 0.5 for serrated or cut
fins.
(7) Correct the coefficient obtained from the above procedure as shown in
sheet AM7.

4 EXAMPLE
4.1 Round Tube, Helical Round Smooth Fins
Using the same geometrical and physical data as in the example of section 4 of
sheet AM3, calculate the uncorrected average airside convective heat-transfer
coefficient, αa (Wm-2K−1). The additionally required data are:
cp = 1005 Jkg-1K-1
λ = 0.02553 Wm−1K−1

AM1 (Amended January 2002) -2-

COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE Aspen HTFS+ HANDBOOK

Thus:
(1) ReD = 7.53 × 0.0254 / (1.80 × 10−5) = 10626
(2) H = 0.5 × (0.0572 - 0.0254) = 0.0159m
Ar = 1 + 2 × 394 × 0.0159
⎛ (0.0159 + 0.000406) ⎞
⎜1 + ⎟ = 21.57
⎝ 0.0254 ⎠
(3) jR = 0.29 × (10626)-0.367 × (21.57)-0.17
= 0.005728
−5
(4) Pr = 1005 ×1.80 ×10 = 0.7086
0.02553
(5) αa = 0.005728 × 1005 × 7.53 × (0.7086)−2/3
= 54.54 W/m2K
For the correction to this coefficient (to account for fin efficiency and surface
effectiveness) see sheet AM7.
4.2 Serrated or Cut Fins
Using the same geometrical and physical data as in section 4.1 above, but
assuming serrated or cut fins:
(1) As for step (1) of section 4.1 above.
(2) As for step (2) of section 4.1 above.
(3) jS = 0.195 × (10626)-0.3 × (21.57)-0.17
= 0.007168
(4) The Prandtl number of step (4) above remains the same.
(5) αa = 0.007168 × 1005 × 7.53 × (0.7086)-2/3
= 68.24 W m-2K−1
This coefficient should then be corrected for fin efficiency and surface
effectiveness as detailed in sheet AM7.

5 ACCURACY
5.1 Round Tube, Helical Round Smooth Fins
Over the range:
1,000 ≤ ReD ≤ 40,000
4 ≤ Ar ≤ 34
Equation (3) predicted 80% of the data collected by PFR (1976) within ± 10%
and 95% of the data within ± 18%.
5.2 Serrated or Cut Fins
Equation (6) above is valid for a module with six rows and:
1,000 ≤ ReD ≤ 40,000
4 ≤ Ar ≤ 34
0.009525m ≤ DR ≤ 0.0508m

AM1 (Amended January 2002) -3-

COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE Aspen HTFS+ HANDBOOK

1.75 × 10−5 Nsm-2 ≤ η ≤ 2.1 × 10−5 Nsm-2

80% of the PFR (1976) data was predicted within ± 15% and 95% of the data
within ± 20%.
5.3 In-Line Arrangements
The error which arises from the application of the factor 0.67 for smooth fins
and 0.5 for serrated fins to results for staggered arrangements in order to obtain
figures for in-line arrangements has been estimated by PFR (1976) as ± 20%.

REFERENCES
PFR ENGINEERING SYSTEMS, INC. (1976) "Heat transfer and pressure drop
characteristics of dry tower extended surfaces. Part II: Data analysis and
correlations." BNWL-PFR-7-102, PFR Inc., Marina del Rey, California.

D. Hoyle
KELLOGG CONTINENTAL B.V.
Amsterdam
August 1985

AM1 (Amended January 2002) -4-