International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112 – 121

www.elsevier.com/locate/ichmt

Study on the heat transfer characteristics of the annular fin under

dry-surface, partially wet-surface, and fully wet-surface conditionsB
Paisarn Naphon
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, 63 Rangsit-Nakhonnayok Road, Ongkharak,
Nakhon-Nayok, 26120, Thailand
Available online 9 September 2005

Abstract

In the present study, theoretical results of the heat transfer characteristics and the fin efficiency of the annular fin are presented.
Annular fin under dry-surface conditions, partially wet-surface conditions, and fully wet-surface conditions are investigated. The
mathematical models based on the conservation equations of energy and mass are developed and solved by the central finite
difference method to obtain temperature distribution along the fin. Effects of inlet condition of working fluids and the fin
dimensions on the heat transfer characteristics and fin efficiency are considered. The results obtained from the model are validated
by comparing with those obtained from the other researchers. There is a reasonable agreement between the results obtained from
the present model and those obtained from the other model.
D 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Heat transfer characteristics; Annular fin; Dry surface; Partially wet surface; Wet surface

1. Introduction

Finned-tube heat exchangers are widely used in applications for air cooling and dehumidifying heat recovery
process. Heat and mass transfer occur simultaneously when the coil surface temperature is below the dew point
temperature of the air being cooled. In general, heat transfer process of finned-tube heat exchanger under wet-
surface conditions is more complex than that under dry-surface conditions. There are many works had been reported
on heat transfer and flow characteristics. Coney and Sheppard [1] predicted the fin effectiveness, fin temperature
distribution, and condensate film thickness in a laminar humid air cross flow. Mirth and Ramadhyani [2] used the
dry-surface heat transfer correlations for predicting the chilled-water cooling-coil performance under condensing
conditions. Kaxeminejad [3] analyzed a one-dimensional conduction heat transfer of a cooling and dehumidifying
fin assembly. The effects of the relative humidity, dry bulb temperature, and cold fluid temperature on the
temperature distribution and also on the augmentation factor were considered. Thombre and Sukhatme [4]
experimentally studied the fully developed heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of shrouded fin arrays
in the turbulent flow region. Srinivasan and Shah [5] determined the fin efficiency in two-phase flow applications.
Salah El-Din [6] developed analytical solutions for predicting the performance of the fully and partially wet fin

B
Communicated by W.J. Minkowycz.
E-mail address: paisarnn@swu.ac.th.

0735-1933/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2005.08.009
 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121 113

ro
Wall region

rn+1

Fin region
Center line

n-1 n n+1
rn+1
rn

ri
rt

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of annular fin assembly.

assembly. Rosario and Rahman [7,8] studied effects of relative humidity, dry bulb temperature of air, and cold fluid
temperature inside the coil on the performance of the heat exchanger under dehumidification conditions. Laing et al.
[9] developed the mathematical model for predicting the wet-surface fin efficiency of a plate-fin-tube heat
exchanger. Kundu [10] analyzed the performance and optimization of a cooling and dehumidifying straight taper
longitudinal fin. Mokheimer [11] studied the performance of annulus fins of different profiles subject to locally
variable heat transfer coefficient.
Although some studies have been performed for the heat transfer characteristics of the annular fin, there still
remains room to discuss. The purpose of this paper is to theoretically study the heat transfer characteristics and
performance of the annular fin under dry-surface conditions, partially wet-surface conditions, and fully wet-surface
conditions. Effects of relevant parameters on the temperature distribution and fin efficiency are considered.

2. Mathematical modelling

As shown in Fig. 1, the heat transfer characteristics of annular finned-tube assembly under dry-surface conditions,
partially wet-surface conditions, and fully wet-surface conditions can be determined by the conservation equations of
energy and mass. The mathematical model is based on that of Rosario and Rahman [7,8] and Kraus et al. [12] with the
following main assumptions:

– Thermal resistance of the condensate is not included.

– The thermal conductivity of the fin and wall are constant.
– The thermal contact resistance between the tube wall and the fin is neglected.
– The convective heat and mass transfer coefficients are constant.
– Condensation occurs when the coil surface temperature is below the dew point temperature of air.
– Flows of hot fluid and cold fluid are steady.

Dry-surface conditions
Tube wall region
d2 Tw 1 dTw
þ ¼0 ð1Þ
drw2 rw drw
Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (r i)
dTw
 kw ¼ hi ðTc  Tw Þ ð2Þ
drw
–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (r o)
Tw ¼ Tf ð3Þ
114 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121

and
dTw dTf
 kw d pd ¼ ð p  t Þhho ðTw  Th Þi  kf d td : ð4Þ
drw drf
Fin region
d2 Tf 1 dTf ho
2
þ  ðTf  Th Þ ¼ 0: ð5Þ
drf rf drf kf d t
Boundary condition
–Fin tip (r t)
dTf
 kf ¼ ho ðTf  Th Þ: ð6Þ
drf
Partially wet-surface conditions
Tube wall region
d2 Tw 1 dTw
þ ¼0 ð7Þ
drw2 rw drw
Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (r i)
dTw
 kw ¼ hi ðTc  Tw Þ ð8Þ
drw
–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (r o)
Tw ¼ Tf ð9Þ
and
dTw dTf
 kw d pd ¼ ð p  t Þhho ðTw  Th Þ þ hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þi  kf d td : ð10Þ
drw drf

Wet fin region (r o b r f bh r wd)

d2 Tf 1 dTf 1
2
þ  hho ðTf  Th Þ þ hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þi ¼ 0: ð11Þ
drf rf drf kf d t

Dry fin region (r wd b r f b r t)

d2 Tf 1 dTf ho
2
þ  ðTf  Th Þ ¼ 0: ð12Þ
drf rf drf kf d t

Boundary conditions
–Interface between wet fin region and the dry fin region (r f = r wd)
Tf ;wet ¼ Tf ;dry ð13Þ

dTf ;wet dTf ;dry

¼ ð14Þ
drf drf
–Fin tip (r t)
dTf
 kf ¼ ho ðTf  Th Þ ð15Þ
drf
 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121 115

where x h is the humidity ratio of air, h D is the mass transfer coefficient, h fg is the latent heat of condensation. The
saturated humidity ratio at the outer tube wall, x f, can be calculated from the correlation given by Laing [9]:


xf ¼ 3:7444 þ 0:3078Tf þ 0:0046Tf2 þ 0:0004Tf3  103 ; 0bTf b30 8C: ð16Þ
Fully wet-surface conditions
Tube wall region

d2 Tw 1 dTw
þ ¼0 ð17Þ
drw2 rw drw
Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (r i)

dTw
 kw ¼ hi ðTc  Tw Þ ð18Þ
drw
–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (r o)

Tw ¼ Tf ð19Þ
and

dTw dTf
 kw d pd ¼ ð p  t Þhho ðTw  Th Þ þ hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þi  kf d td : ð20Þ
drw drf
Fin region

d2 Tf 1 dTf 1
2
þ  hho ðTf  Th Þ þ hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þi ¼ 0: ð21Þ
drf rf drf kf d t
Boundary condition
–Fin tip (r t)
dTf
 kf ¼ ho ðTf  Th Þ þ hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þ: ð22Þ
drf
Eqs. (1)–(22), as mentioned above, can be expressed in a dimensionless form as follows:
Dry-surface conditions
Tube wall region

d2 hw 1 dhw
þ ¼ 0: ð23Þ
dR2w Rw dRw
Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (R w = r i/p)

dhw
¼  Bii ð1  hw Þ ð24Þ
dRw
–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (R w = r o/p)

hw ¼ hf ð25Þ

dhw dhf
¼  Bio d ð1  PÞd hw þ Kd P : ð26Þ
dRw dRf
116 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121

Fin region

d2 hf 1 dhf Bia
2
þ  2 hf ¼ 0 ð27Þ
dRf Rf dRf P

Boundary condition
–Fin tip (R f = r t/p)

dhf Bia
¼  hf : ð28Þ
dRf P

Partially wet-surface conditions

Wall region

d2 hw 1 dhw
þ ¼ 0: ð29Þ
dR2w Rw dRw

Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (R w = r i/p)

dhw
¼  Bii ð1  hw Þ ð30Þ
dRw

–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (R w = r o/p)

hw ¼ hf ð31Þ
and
 
dhw hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þ dhf
¼  Bio d ð1  PÞ hb þ þ Kd P ð32Þ
dRw ho ðTc  Th Þ dRf
Wet fin region (R o b R f b R wd)
d2 hf 1 dhf Bia
2
þ  hf ¼ 0 ð33Þ
dRf Rf dRf hð f Þd P2
where
 1
hfg d hD ðxb  xh Þ
hð f Þ ¼ 1þ ð34Þ
h o d h f ð Tc  T h Þ
Dry fin region (R wd b R f b R t)

d2 hf 1 dhf Bia
2
þ  2 hf ¼ 0: ð35Þ
dRf Rf dRf P
Boundary conditions
–Interface between the wet fin region and the dry fin region (R f = R wd)
hf ;wet ¼ hf ;dry ð36Þ

dhf ;wet dhf ;dry

¼ ð37Þ
dRf dRf
 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121 117

–Fin tip (R f = R t)

dhf Bia
¼  hf : ð38Þ
dRf P
Fully wet-surface conditions
Tube wall region

d2 hw 1 dhw
2
þ ¼ 0: ð39Þ
dRw Rw dRw
Boundary conditions
–Inner tube wall (R w = R i = r i/p)
dhw
¼  Bii ð1  hw Þ: ð40Þ
dRw
–Interface between the tube wall and the fin (R w = R o = r o/p)

hw ¼ hf ð41Þ
and
 
dhw hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þ dhf
¼  Bio d ð1  PÞ hb þ þ Kd P ð42Þ
dRw ho ðTc  Th Þ dRf
Fin region

d2 hf 1 dhf Bia
þ  hf ¼ 0: ð43Þ
dR2f Rf dRf hð f Þd P2
Where
 1
hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þ
hð f Þ ¼ 1þ ð44Þ
ho d hf ðTc  Th Þ
Boundary condition
–Fin tip (R f = r t/p)

dhf Bia pd hfg d hD ðxf  xh Þ

 ¼ hf þ : ð45Þ
dRf P kf ðTc  Th Þ

3. Solution method

An annular fin is divided into various segments along the radial direction as shown in Fig. 1. Eqs. (1)–(22) are
written in dimensionless forms as in Eqs. (23)–(45). These equations are solved simultaneously by using the implicit
central finite different method to determine the temperature distribution along the fin. The calculation begins at the
segment of the innermost section of the tube wall and then is done segment by segment along the tube thickness and
the fin. In order to solve the model, the fin dimensions and properties of working fluids, as well as the operating
conditions, are needed.

4. Results and discussion

In the following sections, results of the effects of flow conditions and fin dimensions on the temperature distribution along the
tube wall and fin are presented. Verification of the present mathematical model is performed by comparison with the results
obtained from other researchers. Fig. 2 shows the comparison between the results obtained from the model and those obtained from
the other researchers [13,14] under fully wet-surface conditions. The fin efficiency can be calculated from Eq. (46). It can be clearly
118 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121

1.0

Fin efficiency obtained from other model

%RH = 40-100

+20%
.8
-5%

%RH = 100
.6

%RH = 40
.4

Hong and Webb [14]

McQuiston and Parker [13]
.2
.2 .4 .6 .8 1.0
Fin efficiency obtained from present model
Fig. 2. Comparison of fin efficiency.

seen that the results obtained from the present model underpredict the results obtained from the other model. However, this
deviation diminishes as the relative humidity decreases.
X
N 
 2

ðho þ hD Þ Th  Tf ;n rnþ1  rn2
g¼ n 

: ð46Þ
ðho þ hD Þ Th  Tw;o rt2  ro2
Fig. 3(a) shows the variation of dimensionless temperature with the radius for different inside under dry-surface conditions. The
heat transferred from the outside fluid to the inside fluid. For dry-surface conditions, the temperature distribution can be separated
into two regions, the first one is the temperature distribution in the tube wall region and the second one is the temperature
distribution in the fin region. It can be clearly seen from Fig. 3(a) that the dimensionless temperature decreases with increasing
radius. For the tube region, due to the pure conduction heat transfer, the temperature distribution seems linearity. However, for the
fin region, the trend of the temperature distribution is not linear. This is because the conduction and lateral convection heat transfer
occur simultaneously. The dimensionless temperature increases as inside Biot number increases. However, increase of temperature
tends to decrease as inside Biot number constantly increases. For partially wet-surface conditions as shown in Fig. 3(b), the
temperature distribution can be separated into three regions. Firstly, the temperature distribution occurs in the tube wall region.
Secondly, the temperature distribution occurs in the wet fin region. In this region, the fin temperature is below dew-point
temperature of air, moisture condenses on the fin surface. For the wet fin region, due to the condensation convective heat transfer,
the slope of curve increases causing higher heat transfer rate. This indicates that the latent heat transfer rate has significant effect on
the total heat transfer rate. Thirdly, the temperature distribution occurs in the dry fin region. The fin temperature obtained from this

a 1.0
b 1.0
Fin thickness = 2.5 mm
Fin thickness = 2.5 mm Fin pitch = 10 mm Bio
Fin pitch = 10 mm
Bii = 1.0,RH = 45% 0.091
Bio = 0.1
.8 Bii .8 Tc = 10ºC,Th = 30ºC 0.094
1.0 0.097
0.100
(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)

(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)

0.8
0.103
0.6
.6 0.4 .6
0.2 Wet fin region

.4 .4
Wet-dry interface
.2 .2
Wall region Fin region
Wall region Dry fin region

0.0 0.0
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

R R
Fig. 3. Effect of Bii and Bio on the temperature distribution.
 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121 119

a 1.0
b 1.0
Fin thickness = 2.5 mm Fin pitch = 10 mm
Bii = 1.0, Bio = 0.1 p (mm) Bii = 1.0, Bio= 0.1 t (mm)
.8 Tv = 10ºC, Th = 3ºC Tc = 2ºC, Th= 24ºC 0.50
5.00 .8
RH = 45% 5.25 RH = 65% 0.75
(T-Th)/(Tc-Th) 5.50 1.00

(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)
5.75 1.25
.6 .6 1.50

Wet fin region

.4 .4
Wet-dry interface

.2 .2
Dry fin region Wall region
Wall region
Fin region
0.0 0.0
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
R R
Fig. 4. Effect of p, t on the temperature distribution.

region is higher than dew-point temperature of air. The wet–dry interface is the point where the temperature of fin equals to the
dew-point temperature of air. The dimensionless temperature decreases with increasing outside Biot number when other parameters
are kept constant. This is because the heating capacity depends directly on the outside Biot number. But the cooling capacity is kept
constant. Therefore, increase outside Biot number results in lower dimensionless temperature.
Fig. 4(a) shows the effect of half fin pitch on the temperature distribution along the radius under partially wet-surface
conditions. For a given inside and outside Biot numbers, the half fin thickness and the half fin pitch, the dimensionless temperature
distribution tends to decrease with increasing radius. In addition, at the same radius, the dimensionless temperature increases as the
half fin pitch increases across the range of radius. In order to keep the Bii and Bio constant, the inside and outside heat transfer
coefficients must be decreased due to higher half fin pitch. Therefore, the dimensionless temperature also increases as the half fin
pitch increases. However, this effect tends to diminish as radius decreases. Effect of half fin thickness on the temperature
distribution under fully wet-surface conditions is shown in Fig. 4(b). At a specific inside and outside Biot numbers, cold and hot
fluid temperatures, and relative humidity, for radius N 1.65 the dimensionless temperature gradient at lower half fin thickness is
higher than that at higher half fin thickness. This means that at radius b 1.65, the heat transferred to the tube wall region must be
decreased. Therefore, the dimensionless temperature increases.
Figs. 5(a) and (b) show the effect of inlet relative humidity of air on the temperature distribution under partially wet-surface
conditions and fully wet-surface conditions. For a given inside and outside Biot numbers, cold and hot fluid temperatures, the latent
heat transfer rate resulted from the condensation of moisture on the fin surface increases with increasing relative humidity.
Therefore, the dimensionless temperature decreases as the relative humidity increases and consequently, the width of wet fin region
also increases as shown in figure.

a b 1.0
1.0
Fin thickness = 2.5 mm Fin thickness = 2.5 mm
Fin pitch = 10 mm Fin pitch = 10 mm
Bii = 1.0, Bio= 0.1 .8 Bii = 1.0, Bio= 0.1
.8 RH (%) RH (%)
Tc = 10ºC, Th = 30ºC Tc = 2ºC, Th= 24ºC
45.00 55
(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)

46.25
(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)

60
47.50 65
.6 48.75 .6
70
50.00

Dry fin region

.4 .4

Wet-dry interface
.2 .2
Wall region Wet fin region Wall region Fin region

0.0 0.0
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
R R
Fig. 5. Effect of %RH on the temperature distribution.
120 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121

a 1.0
b 1.0
Fin thickness = 2.5 mm Fin thickness = 2.5 mm
Fin pitch = 10 mm Fin pitch = 10 mm
Th (ºC)
Bii = 1.0, Bio= 0.1 Bii = 1.0, Bio= 0.1 Tc (ºC)
.8 Tc= 10ºC, RH = 45% 30 .8
32 Th= 24ºC, RH = 65% 2
(T-Th)/(Tc-Th) 34 5

(T-Th)/(Tc-Th)
36 8
.6 38 .6 11
14

Dry fin region

.4 .4

Wet-dry interface
.2 .2
Wall region
Wet fin region Wall region Fin region

0.0 0.0
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
R R
Fig. 6. Effect of T h, Tc on the temperature distribution.

Fig. 6(a) shows the effect of hot fluid temperature on the temperature distribution under partially wet surface conditions. As
expected, the temperature is directly proportional to the hot fluid temperature. For a given relative humidity, cold fluid temperature,
the dew-point temperature of air increases as the hot fluid temperature increases. The latent and sensible heat transfer rate resulted
from the condensing of moisture increase as the air hot fluid temperature increases. These mean that the width of wet fin region
increases as the hot fluid temperature increases. Fig. 6(b) also shows the effect of cold fluid temperature on the temperature
distribution along the radius under fully wet-surface conditions, respectively. It can be clearly seen from figure that at the same
radius the cold fluid temperature has an insignificant effect on the temperature distribution.

5. Conclusion

The predicted results of the heat transfer characteristics of the annular fin under dry-surface conditions, partially
wet-surface conditions, and fully wet-surface conditions are presented. The results obtained from the model are
validated by comparing with those obtained from the other researchers. The effects of inlet condition of both working
fluids and the fin dimensions are discussed. There is reasonable agreement between the results obtained from the
present model and those obtained the other model. The various parameters have significant effect on the temperature
distribution.

Nomenclature
Bia Biot number, (h o d t/k f)
Bii inside Biot number, (h i d p/k w)
Bio outside Biot number, (h o d p/k w)
h heat transfer coefficient, k w/m2 8C
K thermal conductivity ratio, (k f/k w)
K thermal conductivity, k w/m 8C
P aspect ratio, (t/p)
p half fin pitch, m
Rf dimensionless radius within fin, r f/p
Rw dimensionless radius within wall, r w/p
ri internal radius of tube, m
ro external radius of tube, m
rt external radius of fin, m
Tc cold fluid temperature, 8C
Tf fin temperature, 8C
Th hot fluid temperature, 8C
Tw wall temperature, 8C
 P. Naphon / International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 33 (2006) 112–121 121

t half fin thickness, m

g fin efficiency
h dimensionless temperature, (T  T h)/(Tc  T h)

Subscript
b fin base
t fin tip
wd wet-dry interface
f fin
w wall

References

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[3] H. Kazeminejad, Analysis of one-dimensional fin assembly heat transfer with dehumidification, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 38 (1995)
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[4] S.B. Thombre, S.P. Sukhatme, Turbulent flow heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of shrouded fin arrays with uninterrupted fins,
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[14] T.K. Hong, R.L. Webb, Calculation of fin efficiency for wet and dry fin, Int. J. HVAC R. Res. 2 (1996) 27 – 41.