Heat transfer and pressure drop correlations for the rectangular offset strip fin compact heat exchanger

The development of thermal-hydraulic design tools for rectangular offset strip fin compact heat exchangers and the associated convection process are delineated. On the basis of current understanding of the physical phenomena and enhancement mechanisms, existing empirical f and j data for actual cores are reanalyzed. The asymptotic behavior of the data in the deep laminar and fully turbulent flow regimes is identified. The respective asymptotes for f and j are shown to be correlated by power law expressions in terms of Re and the dimensionless geometric parameters α, δ, and γ. Finally, rational design equations for f and j are presented in the form of single continuous expressions covering the laminar, transition, and turbulent flow regimes.