COILS

DIVISION RAE CORPORATION

Quick Reference Guide

Booster Coils • Fluid Coils

Steam Coils • Evaporator Coils
Condenser Coils • Industrial Coils

The Guide to All Things RAE Coils

 RAE Coils Model Nomenclature

Tube Size*
38 = 3/8” O.D.
12 = 1/2” O.D.
58 = 5/8” O.D.
11 = 1” O.D.

Coil Type
B = Booster (Flanged)
BS = Booster (Slip & Drive)
C = Condenser
D = Direct Expansion
S = Steam
SD = Steam Distributing
W = Water

Fin Height**

Fin Length
Tube Length

Fin Spacing
Fins Per Inch

Rows Deep

Fin Type
F = Flat
W = Waffle
C = Sine

Circuiting Fraction
Q = Quarter
H = Half
T = Three-quarter
F = Full
N = One & one-half
D = Double
E = One tube fed (headerless)
J = Two tube fed (headerless)
Z = Special

Hand (air hitting in back of head)

R = Right
L = Left

*Notes:
3/8” tube fin heights are in increments of 1”
1/2” tube fin heights are in increments of 1-1/4”
5/8” tube fin heights are in increments of 1-1/2”
1” tube fin heights are in increments of 3”

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 RAE Coils Terminology

Blow Through The supply fan is upstream of the cooling coil.

BTU British thermal unit

Threaded plugs are provided for each tube or a removable plate is provided usually at the return bend end of the
Cleanable Tubes
coil.

The ratio of the number of water inlet tubes to the number of tubes in the first row fed directly from the entering
Coil Circuitry water header. Example: A single circuit coil has all tubes fed in the first row as compared to a half circuit coil where
only 1/2 of the tubes are fed in the first row. Examples of typical coil circuiting can be found on page 10.

A phenomena where condensate fills the space between fins and the air traveling across the coil pushes or bursts
Condensate Burst
the water into the airstream. Commonly referred to as water carryover.

CW Chilled water

A coil design that provides integral 1-2 degrees re-heat to avoid wet final filters that are immediately downstream
De-Saturation Coil
of a cooling coil and supply fan is in a blow-thru position.

Draw Through The supply fan is downstream of the cooling coil.

Refrigerant distributors improve system performance by mixing the refrigerant liquid and vapor as it leaves the
DX Distributor thermal expansion valve (TEV). This ensures that all circuits of the evaporator are evenly fed, which means the
evaporator is fully utilized and operating efficiently

EAT Entering air temperature into coil

EWT Entering water temperature into coil

FPS Feet per second

GPM Gallons per minute

HW Hot water

Drain pan installed between two coils (or installed in the finpack on coils taller that 48”)to reduce condensate
Intermediate
build-up between fins. Condensate accumulates in a sloped drain pan and is carried to the lower pan via a down-
Drain Pan
spout.

LAT Leaving air temperature after coil

LWT Leaving water temperature after coil

Phenolic or E-Coat A dipped coating that is applied to coils to provide enhanced corrosion protection.
Sensible BTU Sensible heat only, not latent. Heating coils will only show Sensible heat gain.
(SBTU) Note: Some cooling coils may only perform sensibly.

A sprayed coating that is applied to coils to provide enhanced corrosion protection. Spray coatings are generally
Spray Coating
less expensive than dipped coatings.

A spiral wound wire placed inside each tube to help prevent laminar flow of water to promote more efficient energy
Turbulators transfer from the water to the tube/fin assy. Turbulators are used frequently with high percentages of glycol. Some
engineers/owners do not allow Turbs.
Includes Latent and Sensible heat. Cooling coil performance data sheets will show Total and Sensible BTU per-
Total BTU (TBTUH)
formance.
Copper tube sheets attached to desired standard casing material to provide copper tube to copper tube sheet
Ultra Casing connection. Ultra casing can be used for extreme, abrupt changes in operating temperatures or for applications
that involve excessive vibration.

WPD Water pressure drop

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 RAE Coils General Guidelines
COIL SIZING GUIDELINES
CFM 350-400 CFM/Ton with return air
(Cooling Coils) 200-250 CFM/Ton with outside air

Cooling Coils: typically 500 (+/-50) FPM, can be lower for 100% outside air conditions
Face Velocities
Heating Coils: typically 700 (+/-100) FPM, can be much higher based on application

Typically 42”-48” max depending on fin spacing, FPM, and application. FH can be as high as 96”
Fin Height (FH) if the customer will install a intermediate drain pan in the fin pack, try to stay under 12 FPI or if
conditions do not present sufficient condensate to create water carry over.

Fin Length (FL) Maximum of 288” (Indoor access pull may limit and/or scheduled max WPD)

Generally 8-10 FPI for cooling/heating applications. Low temp applications or applications that will
Fin Spacing/Fins per Inch
require defrost may have a low fin spacing of 4-6 FPI. Any application that needs to be frequently
(FPI)
washed or cleaned in place (CIP) would also use a lower FPI

Mixed Air Cooling

Typically 80°F/67°F
Conditions

Outside Air Conditions Typically 95°F/75°F

3/8” Tubes: FH/1 = number of tubes high per row

1/2” Tubes: FH/1.25 = number of tubes high per row
Tubes High (in coil face)
5/8” Tubes: FH/1.5 = number of tubes high per row
1” Tubes: FH/3 = number of tubes high per row

COIL MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION

AcryCoat Fin coated with Epoxy coating from the mill (80% less cost than dipped)

Cooling Coils: galvanized, stainless, aluminum (Stainless preferred for rust prevention)
Casing Options Heating Coils: galvanized, stainless, aluminum (Galvanized preferred due to lack of
condensate)

Coating Options Phenolic/Heresite, Electro-Fin, Tehcni-Coat, E-Coat

Water/Steam Coils: steel, brass, copper

Connection Options
DX Coils: Copper

Aluminum: .006”, .008”, .010”

Fin Thicknesses
Copper: .006”, .008”, .010”
Sine, Waffle and Flat. Sine offers the highest performanc but at the expense of APD. Waffle is
moderate fin patters with increased performance over flat with reasonable APD. Flat offers the least
Fin Types
APD with decreased performance. Note at higher fin spacing applications the flat fin performance
de-rate is less prominent.

DX, Condensing, Chilled Water, and Hot Water Coils: 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”
Tube Diameters Standard Steam Coils: 5/8”
Steam Distributing Coil: 1”

3/8” Tubes: .014”, .016”, .020”

1/2” Tubes: .017”, .025”, .032”
Tube Thicknesses
5/8” Tubes: .020”, .025”, .035”, .049”
1” Tubes: .035”, .049”

NOTE: All RAE Coils are tested to 400 PSIG, with the exception of 1” steam coils (tested at 200 PSIG) and 410A refrigerant heat pump
DX or condensing coils (tested at 650 PSIG.)

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 RAE Coils General Guidelines

COIL SELECTION GUIDELINES

Chilled Water Coils: 0.75°F to 1°F
Air Pressure Drop
Hot Water Coils: 0.25°F to 5°F

Most coils are selected at SCFM. If your elevation exceeds 1,000-2,000 feet consider
Altitude ACFM and entering the actual altitude. Your selection will need to be more robust due
to the decrease in air density.

Entering Water Chilled Water Coils: 43°F to 45°F with a 10°F to 15°F TD
Temperature (EWT) Hot Water Coils: 180°F with a 20°F TD

Gallons per Minute

2.4 GPM/Ton of cooling
(GPM)

Maximum Rows Typically 12, though some engineers limit to 6-8 rows per coil and require two coils
(Chilled Water Coils) in series separated by an access section.

Refrigerant Pressure R-410a: 6 PSI is the target, with a minimum of 2 PSI and a maximum of 12 PSI
Drop R-22: 2-4PSI is the target, with a minimum of 2 PSI and a maximum of 6 PSI

Water Pressure Drop Chilled Water Coils: 10 to 25 feet

(WPD)* Hot Water Coils: 5 to 15 feet

Water Velocity* 3 to 4 FPS with a minimum of 2 FPS and a maximum of 6 FPS

Weight To determine water weight in coil, add 1 lb./square foot of coil face area/row

*Always adjust coil circuiting to maximize allowable water velocity and water pressure drop (WPD.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What criteria most affects coil selection?
1. Coil circuiting (tube velocity and water pressure drop)
2. Fin spacing, then feet per minute and rows
3. Fin height is more expensive than fin length when adjusting coil face area

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 Typical Coil Circuiting

One issue confronting salespeople, contractors, and engineers as they attempt to discuss an existing coil is
how to describe it. What one person describes as “rows,” another will call “passes,” and yet a third will identify
as “tubes high.”

The diagram below is what we believe most accurately describes the components of a coil. It shows the rows
deep, tubes in the face (or tubes high), number of passes, etc.

However, when an old coil is observed in the field, you can usually only see the header end and/or the end
opposite the header (also known as the return bend end.) Luckily, taking good pictures or notes of both of
those ends will identify many of the critical details on a coil.

The following section shows several diagrams of various circuiting views.

TYPICAL CHILLED WATER COIL

4 row, 5 tubes fed, 4 pass
Single Serpentine 6

Right Hand
Air Flow

Water Out
1. Supply Header
2. Return Header
3. Vent
2 4. Drain

4 5 5. Coil Circuit
6. Rows
7. Face Tubes
3 1
Water In

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 Typical Coil Circuiting

Circuitry is the ratio of water inlet tubes to total number of tubes in the first row.
Note: 1 row, full-circuit coils have opposite end connections!

SINGLE SERPENTINE DOUBLE SERPENTINE HALF SERPENTINE

4 rows 8 circuits 4 rows 16 circuits 4 rows 4 circuits

8 tubes per row 4 passes 8 tubes per row 2 passes 8 tubes per row 8 passes

6 rows 8 circuits 6 rows 16 circuits 6 rows 4 circuits

8 tubes per row 6 passes 8 tubes per row 3 passes 8 tubes per row 12 passes
opposite end connections shown

8 rows 8 circuits 8 rows 16 circuits 8 rows 4 circuits

8 tubes per row 8 passes 8 tubes per row 4 passes 8 tubes per row 16 passes

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 Typical Coil Circuiting

HEADER END SHOWN - HEADERS REMOVED

4 row, 6 row, 8 row,

quarter circuit half circuit half circuit

4 row, 6 row, 8 row,

half circuit full circuit full circuit

4 row, 6 row, 8 row,

full circuit one and a half double circuit
circuit

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RAE Coils Installation Guidelines
WATER & STEAM COILS
Coil connections are extended through the duct or AHU casing walls (unless an internal pipe chase is required
in the AHU). Coils are certified/rated in accordance with AHRI 410.
DX COILS
Same as Chilled Water Coils except that coil construction may be single circuit or dual circuit interlaced, dual
circuit face split, or dual circuit split by rows. Coils are certified/rated in accordance with AHRI 410.
CHILLED WATER DESIGN RULES FOR AHU INSTALLATION
1. Minimum unit width based on coils:
FL + 10” + (2 x wall thickness)
*Add an additional 9” for internal pipe case and an additional 12” for 2W coils.
*DX Coils: Add 4-6” in width to accomodate Distributor and Tubing
2. Minimum unit height based on coils:
FH + 7” + base height + roof thickness + roof slope
*Add an additional (2” + FH) for each additional coil. Add an additional 2” for each additional coil that has slide
racks.
3. Try not to exceed 42”-48” fin height per coil unless the coil is entirely sensible cooling. Try not to exceed
240” fin length. Most indoor units will require much shorter coil lengths to allow for replacement.
4. Target minimum 2 FPS on CV systems and 3-5 FPS on VAV systems to help address turn down (6
FPS maximum). Recommend verifying with engineer minimum conditions to assure operation above
Laminar flow conditions. Balance FPS with scheduled maximum WPD (CW WPD is typically 15-20’)
Note: Where to put cooling coils is usually a question of where they are in relation to the supply fan. If unit
conditions are given vs. coil conditions, then motor heat must be taken into consideration. If blow through
cooling is used, then fan heat must be added to the mixed air conditions entering the cooling coil. If blow
through is preferred, a desaturation coil design can add 1-2° of reheat to help avoid the wet final filter concern.
This arrangement has the least impact on the amount of cooling coil surface required to provide a given
discharge temperature. In a draw through, the leaving conditions for the coil must be lower than the desired
discharge temperature as the fan/motor heat must be added to the air leaving the coil. This does provide an
advantage in applications that include final filters as the fan/motor heat lowers the relative humidity slightly.
Under certain conditions, cold saturated air will “wet” the final filter.
HEATING COIL DESIGN RULES FOR AHU INSTALLATION
1. Minimum unit width based on coils:
FL + 10” + (2 x wall thickness)
*Add an additional 9” for internal pipe case and an additional 12” for 2W coils.
2. Minimum unit height based on coils:
FH + 6” + base height + roof thickness + roof slope
*Add an additional (3.5” + FH) for each additional coil. No additional space required for slide racks.
3. Try not to exceed 60” fin height per coil. Try not to exceed 240” fin length. Most indoor units will require
much shorter coil lengths to allow for replacement.
4. Size at 550 to 700 FPM. Maximum of 1,000 FPM if unit layout allows.
5. Maintain a 1 to 6 FPS on fluid flow (2 to 4 FPS is preferred) and a maximum WPD of 10 to 15 feet.
Note: Where to put heating coils depends on the application. If freezing of a cooling coil during the winter
is a concern, a heating coil could be placed upstream of the cooling coil to provide freeze protection. If
reheating of conditioned air to lower the relative humidity is more of a concern, the heating coil would be placed
downstream of the cooling coil. Some systems may have both preheat and reheat coil, if both concerns are
valid.

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 Coil Field Measurement Sheets

Note: Field measurment sheets are available electronically. Contact your RAE Coils Account Manager.

STANDARD STEAM COILS

STEAM DISTRIBUTING COILS

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Coil Field Measurement Sheets

Note: Field measurment sheets are available electronically. Contact your RAE Coils Account Manager.

WATER COILS

DIRECT EXPANSION COILS, SINGLE CIRCUIT

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 Coil Field Measurement Sheets

Note: Field measurment sheets are available electronically. Contact your RAE Coils Account Manager.

DIRECT EXPANSION COILS, DUAL CIRCUIT INTERLACED

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Notes:

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 Notes:

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Notes:
 COILS
DIVISION RAE CORPORATION

4492 Hunt St • Pryor, OK 74361

Phone: (918) 825-7222
Fax: 1(800) 264-5329
www.RAE-Coils.com
Bulletin# RC-QRG-0517