×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Fin thickness calculation in a plate and fin heat exchanger

Fin thickness calculation in a plate and fin heat exchanger

Fin thickness calculation in a plate and fin heat exchanger

(OP)
hey all,
I am actually trying to validate the results for a plate and fin heat
exchanger.I am trying to calculate the gas side and air side fin area
and total area.
my question would be
1.how to calculate the fin area and total area.what are the things yo
uconsider when u calculate these.
2.I was wondering whether fin density and fin thicknes are realted to
this calculations.
3.I am actually trying to calculate for a plain fin.I can give the
values so that if you can play around with ur idea.
4.Fin Density=0.615 per mm ; Fin metal Thickness=0.152 mm:hydraulic dia
=0.002383 mm
he gave a direct value for Fin area/total area =0.923
I want to know how he got 0.923
 thank you
vinnu

RE: Fin thickness calculation in a plate and fin heat exchanger

fin density should be enough to provide sufficient surface area for the proper convection while at the same time should allow for gas/air movement through it. In other words, the pressure loss across the fin stack has to be consider while deciding the fin density.

you can calculate the finned plus unfinned area of the external surface ( internal surface)

From you cooling conditions, (flow rate of air for forced convection, hydraulic diameter of flow channel) you can assume the Nusselt number and calculate the maximum heat transfer capacity of the fin stack.

It might sound confusing if you havent gone through this before. try reading about the fin analogy (chapter on extended surfaces ) from any heat transfer book ( Incropera & Dewitt, Holman, etc)

the fin aera/total area is useful in calculating overall surface efficiency of the fin which is useful to calculate the outlet temperature conditions and other flow conditions for the fin array.

if you can provide me complete detailing i may be able to help you further.

RE: Fin thickness calculation in a plate and fin heat exchanger

There is one very good reference i remember

Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Design by Shah and Sekulic

This might help you with your design process.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources