A new procedure for performance prediction of air conditioning coils

A new numerical model has been developed for the simulation of pate-fin-tube type of cooling and dehumidifying coils widely used in the air conditioning industry. The model discretizes the coil into nodes along the coolant path and carries out repetitive marches from the coolant inlet to its outlet while simultaneously updating the values of the air stream properties for obtaining quick convergence. Unlike previous models, this model is capable of analyzing complicated circuiting arrangements and can take into account the variation in heat transfer coefficient along the coil. Since the heat transfer and pressure drop through each circuit are calculated separately, the model can be helpful in pointing out any maldistribution of coolant in various circuits of the coil.