Heat transfer and pressure drop in a tube with internal microfins under turbulent water flow conditions

Abstract An experimental study was performed using 15.9 mm O.D. plain and microfinned copper tubes to determine the heat transfer and friction factor coefficients. The heat transfer results were obtained in a test section with an isothermal wall boundary condition using saturated steam as the heating medium and water as a test fluid. Both heat transfer and pressure drop enhancements were observed for a Reynolds number range of 10,000 ≤ Re ≤ 30,000. It was noted that the heat transfer coefficient was 1.2–1.8 times and the isothermal friction factor 1.3–1.8 times that of a plain tube under similar conditions. The experimental data were statistically analyzed, and empirical correlations were derived for both heat transfer coefficient and friction factor.