If the Dittus and Boelter equation is really the McAdams equation, then should not the McAdams equation really be the Koo equation?

Wesley C. Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

In his technical note "Where did the Dittus and Boelter equation come from?", R.H.S. Winterton showed the likely creator of the modern version of the Dittus and Boelter equation was actually McAdams. The following note further investigates Winterton's claim and finds conclusive evidence that the Dittus and Boelter equation did indeed originate with McAdams. The fortuitous combination of the "so-called" McAdams equation for smooth tube friction factor with the Reynolds analogy provides the leading coefficient of 0.023. McAdams actually attributes the usage of fluid bulk properties to his form of the equation to the work of Dittus and Boelter. Along the way, it was also found that what is commonly known as the McAdams equation for smooth tube friction factor is actually the work of E.C. Koo, his graduate student.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1682-1683
Number of pages2
JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
Volume54
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Convection
  • Correlations
  • Friction factor
  • Heat transfer coefficient
  • Pipe flow
  • Turbulent

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