Film Condensation of HCFC-123 on Staggered Bundles of Horizontal Finned Tubes (Effect of fin geometry)

Experiments were conducted to obtain row-by-row heat transfer data during condensation of downward flowing HCFC-123 vapor in staggered bundles of horizontal two-dimensional fin tubes. Two conventional low fin tubes and two finned tubes with fin shapes close to that of a new high-performance fin proposed by Zhu and Honda were tested. The latter tubes had fin dimensions that were optimized by theoretical analysis. The heat transfer characteristics were compared with previous results for in-line bundles of the same test tubes and with theoretical predictions for stagnant vapor. The decrease in heat transfer due to condensate inundation was less significant for the staggered tube bundle. The highest heat transfer coefficient was provided by the staggered bundle of one of the new finned tubes. The theoretical predictions compared well with experimental data at a low vapor velocity and a low to medium condensate inundation rate.