Abstract

The present work outlines a simple procedure for the thermal design of air cooled heat exchanger. The step by step numerical technique is implemented a long the steam flow direction to ratea vertical orientation single pass two tube rows heat exchanger. A saturated steam at atmospheric pressure of flow rate ranged between (18-36) kg/hr was passed throughout the tubes to provide a steam velocity in the range between (3.5) and (7) m/s. The condenser entering air dry bulb temperature was ranged between (21) and (42) oCand condensation load capacity fell in the range of (11) and (22.5) kW. The air flow rate was (1200) cfm and (2400) cfm corresponding air face velocities of (3 and 6) m/s. The simulated data showed excellent agreement with the measured rating parameters regarding the heat exchanger load duty and exit air cooling temperature. The respective discrepancy for the heat duty was within (12) % and (-5) % and the exit air temperature was underestimated by (5) %.