Low-fin staggered tube banks: Heat transfer and pressure-loss for turbulent single-phase crossflow

ESDU 84016 gives new correlations for calculating the external heat transfer and pressure loss for flow over low fin tube banks. Low fins are fins of limited height formed on the tube outside wall, typically by cold rolling. The correlations were derived from a regression analysis of experimental data from various sources covering 14 configurations. They are applicable for Reynolds numbers between 1000 and 800,000, fin densities of 11 to 32 fins per inch (425 to 1250 fins per meter), with heights of 0.03 to 0.1 inch (0.75 to 3 mm) on tubes of outside diameter 0.5 to 1.25 inch (13 to 40 mm). The method over 93 results predicts heat transfer coefficient with a standard deviation of 6.6 per cent and over 81 results predicts pressure drop with a standard deviation of 7.7 per cent. A practical worked example illustrates the use of the data.