H_BRIGGS_YOUNG

This function computes the air-side heat-transfer coefficient for finned tube bundles using the Briggs-Young correlation. It evaluates a Nusselt-number relationship based on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers together with geometric fin-spacing ratios, then reports the result on a bare-tube area basis.

Nu = 0.134\,Re^{0.681}Pr^{0.33}\left(\frac{S}{h_f}\right)^{0.2}\left(\frac{S}{b}\right)^{0.1134}

The output is intended for forced-convection crossflow over finned tube banks.

Excel Usage

=H_BRIGGS_YOUNG(m, A, A_min, A_increase, A_fin, A_tube_showing, tube_diameter, fin_diameter, fin_thickness, bare_length, rho, Cp, mu, k, k_fin)
  • m (float, required): Mass flow rate across the tube bank (kg/s).
  • A (float, required): Total exposed surface area (m^2).
  • A_min (float, required): Minimum flow area (m^2).
  • A_increase (float, required): Surface area ratio relative to bare tube (-).
  • A_fin (float, required): Total fin surface area (m^2).
  • A_tube_showing (float, required): Exposed bare tube area (m^2).
  • tube_diameter (float, required): Bare tube diameter (m).
  • fin_diameter (float, required): Finned tube outer diameter (m).
  • fin_thickness (float, required): Fin thickness (m).
  • bare_length (float, required): Bare tube length between fins (m).
  • rho (float, required): Air density (kg/m^3).
  • Cp (float, required): Air heat capacity (J/kg/K).
  • mu (float, required): Air viscosity (Pa*s).
  • k (float, required): Air thermal conductivity (W/m/K).
  • k_fin (float, required): Fin thermal conductivity (W/m/K).

Returns (float): Heat transfer coefficient on a bare-tube basis (W/m^2/K), or an error message if invalid.

Example 1: Baseline bundle properties

Inputs:

m A A_min A_increase A_fin A_tube_showing tube_diameter fin_diameter fin_thickness bare_length rho Cp mu k k_fin
1.2 40 4 12 35 5 0.02 0.05 0.001 0.003 1.2 1005 0.000018 0.026 200

Excel formula:

=H_BRIGGS_YOUNG(1.2, 40, 4, 12, 35, 5, 0.02, 0.05, 0.001, 0.003, 1.2, 1005, 0.000018, 0.026, 200)

Expected output:

78.9099

Example 2: Higher flow rate and larger fin diameter

Inputs:

m A A_min A_increase A_fin A_tube_showing tube_diameter fin_diameter fin_thickness bare_length rho Cp mu k k_fin
2 55 5 10 48 7 0.025 0.06 0.0012 0.0035 1.1 1010 0.000019 0.027 210

Excel formula:

=H_BRIGGS_YOUNG(2, 55, 5, 10, 48, 7, 0.025, 0.06, 0.0012, 0.0035, 1.1, 1010, 0.000019, 0.027, 210)

Expected output:

74.7508

Example 3: Compact geometry with lower flow

Inputs:

m A A_min A_increase A_fin A_tube_showing tube_diameter fin_diameter fin_thickness bare_length rho Cp mu k k_fin
0.9 32 3.5 13 28 4 0.016 0.045 0.0009 0.0025 1.25 1000 0.000017 0.025 180

Excel formula:

=H_BRIGGS_YOUNG(0.9, 32, 3.5, 13, 28, 4, 0.016, 0.045, 0.0009, 0.0025, 1.25, 1000, 0.000017, 0.025, 180)

Expected output:

78.8332

Example 4: Higher fin conductivity case

Inputs:

m A A_min A_increase A_fin A_tube_showing tube_diameter fin_diameter fin_thickness bare_length rho Cp mu k k_fin
1.5 45 4.5 11 38 7 0.018 0.055 0.0011 0.0032 1.18 1008 0.0000185 0.0265 240

Excel formula:

=H_BRIGGS_YOUNG(1.5, 45, 4.5, 11, 38, 7, 0.018, 0.055, 0.0011, 0.0032, 1.18, 1008, 0.0000185, 0.0265, 240)

Expected output:

77.9519

Python Code

Show Code 
from ht.air_cooler import h_Briggs_Young as ht_h_Briggs_Young

def h_Briggs_Young(m, A, A_min, A_increase, A_fin, A_tube_showing, tube_diameter, fin_diameter, fin_thickness, bare_length, rho, Cp, mu, k, k_fin):
    """
    Compute air-side heat transfer coefficient using Briggs and Young correlations.

    See: https://ht.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ht.air_cooler.html

    This example function is provided as-is without any representation of accuracy.

    Args:
        m (float): Mass flow rate across the tube bank (kg/s).
        A (float): Total exposed surface area (m^2).
        A_min (float): Minimum flow area (m^2).
        A_increase (float): Surface area ratio relative to bare tube (-).
        A_fin (float): Total fin surface area (m^2).
        A_tube_showing (float): Exposed bare tube area (m^2).
        tube_diameter (float): Bare tube diameter (m).
        fin_diameter (float): Finned tube outer diameter (m).
        fin_thickness (float): Fin thickness (m).
        bare_length (float): Bare tube length between fins (m).
        rho (float): Air density (kg/m^3).
        Cp (float): Air heat capacity (J/kg/K).
        mu (float): Air viscosity (Pa*s).
        k (float): Air thermal conductivity (W/m/K).
        k_fin (float): Fin thermal conductivity (W/m/K).

    Returns:
        float: Heat transfer coefficient on a bare-tube basis (W/m^2/K), or an error message if invalid.
    """
    try:
        return ht_h_Briggs_Young(
            m=m,
            A=A,
            A_min=A_min,
            A_increase=A_increase,
            A_fin=A_fin,
            A_tube_showing=A_tube_showing,
            tube_diameter=tube_diameter,
            fin_diameter=fin_diameter,
            fin_thickness=fin_thickness,
            bare_length=bare_length,
            rho=rho,
            Cp=Cp,
            mu=mu,
            k=k,
            k_fin=k_fin,
        )
    except Exception as e:
        return f"Error: {str(e)}"

Online Calculator

Mass flow rate across the tube bank (kg/s).
Total exposed surface area (m^2).
Minimum flow area (m^2).
Surface area ratio relative to bare tube (-).
Total fin surface area (m^2).
Exposed bare tube area (m^2).
Bare tube diameter (m).
Finned tube outer diameter (m).
Fin thickness (m).
Bare tube length between fins (m).
Air density (kg/m^3).
Air heat capacity (J/kg/K).
Air viscosity (Pa*s).
Air thermal conductivity (W/m/K).
Fin thermal conductivity (W/m/K).