Analysis of Heat Transfer Surface Geometries for Dry Cooling Tower Applications

Abstract

An analysis of heat exchanger surface geometries for the purpose of reducing dry cooling tower cost is presented. Two sets of results are derived. The first set can be used to evaluate heat transfer surface geometries in an attempt to select those most suitable for dry cooling tower applications. The second set of results can be used to direct research and development efforts toward developing better geometries for dry cooling tower applications. The first set of results is general and is applicable to all heat exchanger surface geometries. The second set is valid only for helical round or continuous fins having smooth, serrated, or cut fins and for staggered and in-line tube arrangements. The methods developed in this paper are not restricted to dry cooling towers per se, but are valid for other applications of fin tube heat exchangers as well.