Uncertainty analysis for experimental heat transfer data obtained by the Wilson plot method: Application to condensation on horizontal plain tubes

Abstract

The accurate estimation of convection coefficients constitutes a crucial issue in designing and sizing any type of heat exchange device. The Wilson plot method and its subsequent modifications deliver a suitable procedure to estimate the convection coefficients from the post-processing of experimental data in a multitude of convective heat transfer processes. Uncertainty analysis is a powerful tool not only for handling the data and reporting coherent results of a certain experimental program, but also is a valuable tool in those stages devoted to the experimental design. This paper details the application of an analytical methodology for calculating the uncertainty associated with experimental data obtained by the Wilson plot method. Results based on a representative Wilson plot experiment to measure the condensation coefficients of R-134a over a horizontal 19 mm diameter smooth tube are shown. A parametric analysis was carried out sequentially to investigate the influence of the uncertainties in the measured variables and design parameters of the Wilson plot experiment in the results uncertainties. Although the example presented in this paper relates to a specific heat transfer process, the technique turns out to be rather general and can be extended to any heat transfer problem.

Keywords

Dates

  • Submission Date2011-07-01
  • Revision Date2011-10-22
  • Acceptance Date2011-10-26

DOI Reference

10.2298/TSCI110701136U

References

  1. Wilson, E.E., A basis of rational design of heat transfer apparatus, Transactions of ASME, 37 (1915), pp. 47-70
  2. Briggs, D. E., Young, E. H., Modified Wilson plot techniques for obtaining heat transfer correlations for shell and tube heat exchangers, Chemical Engineering Progress Symposium Series, 65 (1969), pp. 35-45
  3. Shah, R. K., Assessment of modified Wilson plot techniques for obtaining heat exchanger design data, Proceedings of the Ninth International Heat Transfer Conference, 5 (1990), pp. 51-56
  4. Khartabil, H. F., Christensen, R. N., An improved scheme for determining heat transfer correlations for heat exchanger regression models with three unknowns, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, 5 (1992), pp. 808-819
  5. Khartabil, H. F., Christensen, R. N., Richards, D. E., A modified Wilson plot technique for determining heat transfer correlations, Proceedings of the UK National Heat Transfer Conference, 2 (1998), pp. 1331-1357
  6. Fernández-Seara, J., Uhía, F. J., Sieres, J., Campo, A., A general review of the Wilson plot method and its modifications to determine convection coefficients in heat exchange devices, Applied Thermal Engineering, 27 (2007), pp. 2745-2757
  7. Singh, S. K., Kumar, R., Mohanty, B., Heat transfer during condensation of steam over a vertical grid of horizontal integral-fin copper tubes, Applied Thermal Engineering, 21 (2001), pp. 717-730
  8. Yang, R., Chiang, F. P., An experimental heat transfer study for periodically varying-curvature curved-pipe, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 45 (2002), pp. 3199-3204
  9. Rennie, T. J. , Raghavan, V. G. S., Experimental studies of a double-pipe helical heat exchanger, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 29 (2005), pp. 919-924
  10. Kumar, V., Saini, S., Sharma, M., Nigam, K. D. P., Pressure drop and heat transfer study in tube-in-tube helical heat exchanger, Chemical Engineering Science, 61 (2006), pp. 4403-4416
  11. Xiaowen, Y., Lee, W. L., The use of helical heat exchangers for heat recovery of domestic water-cooled air-conditioners, Energy Conversion and Management, 50 (2009), pp. 240-246
  12. Wójs, K., Tietze, T., Effects of the temperature interference on the results obtained using the Wilson plot technique, Heat and Mass Transfer, 33 (1997), pp. 241-245
  13. Styrylska, T. B., Lechowska, A. A., Unified Wilson plot method for determining heat transfer correlations for heat exchangers, Journal of Heat Transfer, 125 (2003), pp. 752-756
  14. Rose, J. W., Heat-transfer coefficients, Wilson plots and accuracy of thermal measurements, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 28 (2004), 77-86
  15. Cheng, B., Tao, W. Q, Experimental study of R152a film condensation on single horizontal smooth tube and enhanced tubes. ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, 116 (1994), pp. 266-270
  16. ISO (Ed.), Guide to the expression of the uncertainty in measurements, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1995
  17. Colburn, A. P., A method of correlating forced convection heat transfer data and a comparison with fluid friction, Transactions AIChE, 29 (1933), pp. 174-210
  18. Nusselt, W., Die Oberflächenkondesation des Wasserdampfes, Z. VDI, 60 (1916), pp. 541-546
  19. Dittus, F. W., Boelter, L. M. K., Heat transfer in automobile radiators of the tubular type, University of California Publications in Engineering 2, 1930, pp. 443-461. Reprinted in: International Communications of Heat and Mass Transfer, 12 (1985), pp. 3-22
  20. Bevington, P. R., Robinson, D. K., Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2003
  21. Coleman, H. W. Steele, W. G., Experimentation and Uncertainty Analysis for Engineers, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1998
Volume 17, Issue 2, Pages471 -487