Single-phaseexperimental analysis of heat transfer in helically finned heat exchanger

A methodology for designing helically serrated finned tube heat exchanger based on the logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) method is validated with experimental tests. The method uses semi-empirical correlations for calculating convective coefficients both inside and outside staggered tube bundles. Equipment was designed, built, and installed in a paper factory in order to validate the methodology. Comparisons between predictions and experimental data show a precision of approximately 96% in heat transfer and approximately 90% in pressure drop for Reynolds numbers upper to 10,000.