Heat Exchangers

ME 430

Heat Exchanger Performance

The performance of heat exchangers

operating under forced flow conditions is
defined by the amount of heat transferred
between the two fluid streams and is
characterized by the UA value or the
dimensionless factors: the effectiveness,ε,
or number of transfer units (NTU’s), and
the capacity ratio,Cr,

1
Heat Exchangers

Plate Style

2
Solar Water Heating

3
 Okotoks Solar Seasonal Storage and District Loop Simplified Schematic
Detached Garages with Two Story
Glycol / Water Solar Collector roofs Single Family
Heat Exchanger Homes

District Heating Loop Underground Thermal

Central Plant Outline Storage Located Beneath District Heating
Located on MR MR Loop (Below Grade) Connects
to Homes in Community

4
Okotoks – Energy Delivery

Bore Hole Storage

5
 10 20 30 40 50 60
0
60

55
-10
50

45
-20 40

35

30
-30
25

20
-40
15

10

-50 5

-60

-70

-80

Energy Balance
the rate of heat transfer between m& c m& s
the two fluid streams in the heat Tci Tso
exchanger, Q, is,
Q = ( mc
& p ) s (Tso − Tsi ) = (mc
& p ) c (Tci − Tco )
Q
Q=0 Q=0
Q

where mc & p is the heat

capacity rate of one of the fluid
streams.
m& c m& s
Tco Tsi

6
 Simple Configurations

Heat transfer through a wall

Q = qx A

and

Q = UA (∆T)

U = (1/h1 + Rwall +1/h2)-1

7
 Simple Configurations
for Tube & Shell

Q = UA (∆T)
Need to determine ∆T.
This is not straightforward
as for the parallel flow case.

UA –Value & LMTD

The unit’s overall conductance or UA value is defined as
the product of the overall heat transfer coefficient and the
heat transfer area. For counter-flow applications, the heat
transfer rate is defined as the product of overall
conductance and the log-mean temperature difference,
LMTD, i.e.,
Q = UA ⋅ LMTD
where the log-mean temperature difference is equal to,

∆Tout − ∆Tin
LMTD =
⎛ ∆T ⎞
ln ⎜ out ⎟
⎝ ∆Tin ⎠

8
 Parallel Flow

Q = UA ⋅ LMTD

∆Tout − ∆Tin
LMTD =
⎛ ∆T ⎞
ln ⎜ out ⎟
⎝ ∆Tin ⎠

Counter Flow

Q = UA ⋅ LMTD

∆Tout − ∆Tin
LMTD =
⎛ ∆T ⎞
ln ⎜ out ⎟
⎝ ∆Tin ⎠

9
From “Heat Transfer”,
By Y. Cengel

10
 Effectiveness
The heat exchanger effectiveness, ε, is defined as the ratio
of the rate of heat transfer in the exchanger, Q, to the
maximum theoretical rate of heat transfer, Qmax , i.e.,
Q
ε=
Qmax
m& c m& s
The maximum theoretical rate of heat transfer Tci Tso

is limited by the fluid stream with the smallest

heat capacity rate, i.e. Q

& p ) s (Tso − Tsi )

Q=0 Q=0
(mc Q

ε=
& p ) min (Tci − Tsi )
(mc m& c m& s
Tco Tsi

& p ) min the is the smaller of (mc

where (mc & p )c .
& p ) s or (mc

NTU
The number of transfer units (NTU) is an indicator
of the actual heat-transfer area or physical size of
the heat exchanger. The larger the value of NTU,
the closer the unit is to its thermodynamic limit. It is
defined as,

UA
NTU =
& p ) min
(mc

11
 Capacity Ratio
The capacity ratio, Cr, is representative of the operational
condition of a given heat exchanger and will vary
depending on the geometry and flow configuration (parallel
flow, counterflow, cross flow, etc.) of the exchanger. This
value is defined as the minimum heat capacity rate divided
by the maximum capacity rate, i.e.,

& p ) min
(mc
Cr =
& p ) max
(mc
It is important to note that the capacity ratio will be directly
proportional to the ratio of the mass flow rates if the specific
heats of the flows are fairly constant.

Effects of Capacity Ratio and NTU on Effectiveness

12
Effectiveness Relations

13
NTU Relations

14
15
 Refrigeration

Examples

Other Types
Heat Pipe
Rotary
ILC Enthalpy Wheel

16
 Heat Pipe

Enthalpy Wheel
The heart of the Energy Recovery Ventilator is
the desiccant coated energy recovery wheel,
which slowly rotates between its two sections.
In one section, the stale, conditioned air is
passed through the wheel, and exhausted in
the atmosphere. During this process, the
wheel absorbs sensible and latent energy
from the conditioned air, which is used to
condition (cool / heat) the incoming Fresh Air
in the other section, during the second half of
its rotation cycle.

17