MODIFIED WILSON-PLOT TECHNIQUE FOR HEAT EXCHANGER PERFORMANCE: STRATEGIES FOR MINIMIZING UNCERTAINTY IN DATA REDUCTION

摘要

The so-called 'modified Wilson-Plot' technique is commonly accepted as the preferred method for interpreting air-side heat transfer performance data for liquid- and refrigerant-to-air heat exchangers. Indeed, there are good reasons to believe Wilson-Plot techniques are superior to alternative data interpretation schemes. Unfortunately, Wilson-Plot methods are conceptually and computationally more complex than the other methods and it is not possible to simply extend the single-sample uncertainty analysis of Kline and McClintock to the modified Wilson-Plot technique. A rational approach to uncertainty analysis for the modified Wilson-Plot is not available in the literature, but if this method—accepted as superior to others—is to be widely adopted, a well-defined approach to uncertainty analysis is needed. The purpose of this paper is to provide an uncertainty analysis appropriate for the modified Wilson-Plot technique.