Measurement of Air-Velocity Profiles for Finned-Tube Heat Exchangers Using Particle Image Velocimetry.
Measurement of Air-Velocity Profiles for Finned-Tube
Heat Exchangers Using Particle Image Velocimetry.
(219 K)
Yashar, D. A.; Domanski, P. A.; Cho, H. H.
2195;
International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
Conference. Proceedings. July 14-17, 2008, West
Lafayette, IN, 1-8 pp, 2008.
Keywords:
heat exchangers; air velocity; tubes; velocity
distribution; ducts; air flow; velocity profiles;
installing; air conditioning
Abstract:
The performance of a finned tube heat exchanger is
strongly affected by the velocity distribution of the
air that passes through it. The air velocity
distribution for finned-tube heat exchangers has gone
largely undocumented because it is difficult to measure
accurately. In this study, the air velocity distribution
upstream of three heat exchangers installed in a
horizontal duct is examined; a vertically oriented
single-slab coil, a single-slab coil placed at an angle
of 65o to the duct wall, and a two-slab A-Shaped coil
with a 34o apex angle. The data was taken using a
non-intrusive, laser based technique called Particle
Image Velocimetry (PIV). The measurement results show
that the air inlet velocity profile is strongly
influenced by the heat exchanger's design and
application.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899