Viscosity induced non-uniform flow in laminar flow heat exchangers

Laminar flow heat exchangers which cool oil in noninterconnected parallel passages can experience nonuniform flows and a reduction in the effective heat exchanger coefficient in a range of Reynolds number which varies with tube length and diameter, tube wall temperature and fluid inlet temperature. The method of predicting the reduction in effective heat transfer coefficient and the range of Reynolds number over which these instabilities exist is presented for a particular oil, Mobil aviation oil 120. Included, also, is the prediction of the effect of radial viscosity variation on the constant property magnitudes of friction and heat transfer coefficient.