ABSTRACT / SUMMARY

This experiment is conducted based on the heat transfer at a

different temperature gradient. In order to control and indicate the
temperatures of T H i n , T H o u t , T H m i d , T C m i d , T C i n , and T C o u t as well as the hot and
cold water flow rate, we used the concentric tube heat exchanger which
was aided with thermometers and flow rate meters. The experiment is
separated into two parts; Part A and Part B. Part A is conducted with
varying temperatures at constant flow rate whereas Part B is conducted
with varying flow rates at constant temperature. In Part A, counter flow is
more efficient than parallel flow. For parallel flow, the average efficiency
is 32.33%, whereas the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, is 0.6962
W/m 2 K at 40C, 1.0885 W/m 2 K at 50C, and 1.0098 W/m 2 K at 60C. For
counter flow, the average efficiency is 36.88%, whereas the overall heat
transfer coefficient, U, is 1.2144 W/m 2 K at 40C, 1.0885 W/m 2 K at 50C,
and 1.0429 W/m 2 K at 60C. In part B, counter flow is also more efficient
than parallel flow. For parallel flow, the average efficiency is 33.41%,
whereas the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, is 0.8101 W/m 2 K at 2000
cm 3 /min, 1.1139 W/m 2 K at 3000 cm 3 /min, and 1.0818 W/m 2 K at 4000
cm 3 /min. For counter flow, the average efficiency is 34.42%, whereas the
overall heat transfer coefficient, U, is 0.9572 W/m 2 K at 2000 cm 3 /min,
1.1139 W/m 2 K at 3000 cm 3 /min, and 1.0818 W/m 2 K at 4000 cm 3 /min. The
experiment is completed and successfull y conducted.

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INTRODUCTION

The heat exchange process between the fluids that are at distinct
temperatures with a separation of solid wall occurs in man y engineering
applications. Heat exchanger is a device used to implement this exchange
process. A few applications may include space heating and airconditioning, waste heat recovery and chemical processing.

Heat exchangers can be divided into two classifications, which are

flow arrangement accordance and construction type. The heat exchanger
applied in this experiment is the simplest one, with the hot as well as the
cold fluids move in the same or opposite directions in a concentric tube
construction. In the parallel flow arrangement, both hold and cold fluids
enter at the same end, flow in the same direction, and leave at the same
end. In the counter flow arrangement, the fluids enter at different ends,
flow in different directions, and leave at different ends. The two
configurations are differentiated by an idealisation that controls the fluid
motion over the tubes as being unmixed or mixed.

The heats were transferred between two fluids via convention mode,
which refers to the hot fluid to the wall and also b y conduction which
occur within the wall itself and back to the convection process from wall to
the cold fluid.

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AIMS / OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment is to demonstrate the working

principles of

concentric flow heat exchanger under parallel as well as

counter flow conditions, to demonstrate the effect of heat water inlet

temperature variation on the performance characteristics of a concentric
tube heat exchanger, to demonstrate the effect of flow rate variation on
the performance of a concentric tube heat exchanger and also to
determine the most efficient of concentric tube heat exchanger whether it
is the parallel flow or counter-current flow.

THEORY

Concentric tube heat exchanger is one of the most common

conductive-convective types of heat exchanger. Parallel flow is defined as
when both fluids enter the concentric tube heat exchanger from the same
sides and flow through the same directions whereas the counter flow is
defined as when both fluids enter from the opposite sides and flow
through the opposite directions. It is commonl y claimed that the counter
flow is more efficient than the parallel flow.

Consider a double-pipe heat exchanger. The heat transfer rate at

any distance x along the tubes between the hot and cold fluids is given by
q x = UA(T H T C ) ...........................(1)
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where
A

: surface area for heat transfer consistent with definition of U

TH

: hot fluid temperature

TC

: cold fluid temperature

: the overall heat transfer coefficient based on either the

inside or outside area of the tube.

As a matter of fact, the temperature of the hot and cold fluids

changes along the tube. Therefore, in order to calculate the heat transfer
between the two fluids, equation (1) should be integrated between the
inlet and outlet conditions, giving that
q = UAT l m .........................(2)
where T l m is the mean temperature difference across the heat exchanger
and it can be given as
T l m = T i n - T o u t / ln (T i n / T o u t ) ............................(3)

This temperature difference is called the log mean temperature

difference (LMTD) and is valid for both flow conditions. The derivation
shown above is made according to two significant assumptions: first, the
fluid specific heats do not vary with temperature and second, the heat
convection heat transfer coefficients are constant throughout the
exchanger. The second assumptions are influenced by entrance effects,
fluid viscosity and thermal conductivity changes.
The heat loss from the hot fluid flowing in the inner tube can be
determined from
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q H = H Cp H (T H i n T H o u t ) ..............................(4)
where
H

= hot water mass flow rate

Cp H

= hot water specific heat

THin

= hot fluid temperature at entrance

T H o u t = hot fluid temperature at exit

Similarly, the heat gained b y the cold fluid flowing in the space between
the inner and outer pipes can be calculated from
q C = C Cp C (T C i n T C o u t ) ..........................(5)
where
C

= cold water mass flow rate

Cp C

= cold water specific heat

TCin

= cold fluid temperature at entrance

T C o u t = cold fluid temperature at exit

Suppose that q C is less than the q H , some heat is lost through the
insulating material to the surrounding air, abide the outer surface of the
concentric tube is insulated. Thus, the efficiency can be obtained from
= q C ..............................(6)
qH

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The effectiveness of a heat exchanger is defined as

=

actual heat transfer

........................(7)

Maximum Possible Heat Transfer

The value of the actual heat transfer may be obtained from calculating the
energy lost by the hot fluid from equation (4) or the energy gained by the cold
fluid from equation (5). Since the energy gained by the cold fluid is lost through
the insulating material to the surrounding air, it is preferable to substitute the
value of energy lost by the hot fluid as the actual heat transfer in equation (7).
In order to determine the maximum possible heat transfer for the heat
exchanger, one of the fluids is logically required to undergo a temperature
change which represents the maximum temperature difference present in the
heat exchanger, which is the difference in the temperatures for the hot and cold
fluids entering the heat exchanger. Likewise, the fluid is the one having the
minimum value of Cp. Thus, the maximum possible heat transfer then can

be expressed as
q m a x = ( Cp) m i n (T H i n T C i n ) .......................(8)
The minimum fluid may be either the hot or cold fluid, depending on the
mass flow rates and specific heats, and so the efficiency , is
=

qH

x 100% ......................(9)

qmax

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APPARATUS

- Concentric tube heat exchanger

- Water tank
- Thermometers
- Volumetric flow meters

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Part A: Constant flow rate, varies temperatures
1. The main switch is switched on.
2. The temperature and pump switches are switched on.
3. The valve is set to parallel flow.
4. The hot water flow rate is set at 3000 cm 3 /min and the cold water flow
rate at 2000 cm 3 /min.
5. The temperature is set at 40C.
6. The system is let stable until T H i n is 40C and the values of the
temperature at T H o u t , T H m i d , T C m i d , T C i n , and T C o u t are taken.
7. Step 4 until 6 are repeated by varying the temperature at 50C and
60C.
8. Step 4 until 7 are repeated with counter flow.

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Part B: Constant temperature, varies flow rates

1. The valve for parallel flow is set.
2. The temperature is set at 60C.
3. The hot and cold water flow rates are set at 2000 cm 3 /min.
4. The system is let stable and the temperature at T H o u t , T H m i d , T C m i d , T C i n ,
and T C o u t are taken.
5. Step 3 and 4 are repeated by varying the hot water flow rate to 3000
cm 3 /min and 4000 cm 3 /min.
6. Step 2 until 5 are repeated with counter flow.

RESULTS
Part A: Constant flow rate, varies temperatures
Heat
Exchanger
Parallel
Flow
Counter
Flow

Temperature (C)

TH in
40
50
60

TH mid
39
48
56

TH out
38
45
53

TC in
29
29
29

TC mid
30
30
33

TC out
31
36
39

40
50
60

39
48
57

37
45
53

29
29
29

30
31
33

32
36
40

( cm /m i n )

( cm 3 /m i n )

3000

2000

3000

2000

Part B: Constant temperature, varies flow rates

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Heat
Exchanger
Parallel

( cm /m i n )

TH

in

60

Flow
Counter

Temperature (C)
TH mid
54
56
57

TH out
51
52
54

TC in
27
27
27

TC mid
31
32
33

TC out
36
38
39

2000
3000
4000

55
56
58

50
52
54

27
27
27

30
31
32

37
38
39

2000
3000
4000

60

Flow

C
( cm 3 /m i n )

2000

2000

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Part A: Constant flow rate, varies temperatures

Parallel flow at 60C :
3
Take that the density of saturated water, = 988 kg/ m , the specific

heat capacity of hot and cold water as Cp H @ 6 0 C = 4.185 kJ/kg.K and

Cp C @ 2 9 C = 4.179 kJ/kg.K respectivel y and the heat transmission area, A =
m2 .

0.067

H = 3000 cm 3 /min = 5 x 10 - 5 m 3 /s

C = 2000 cm 3 /min = 3.33 x 10 - 5 m 3 /s

H = H

C = C

= 5 x 10 - 5 m 3 /s x 988 kg/ m
kg/ m

= 3.33 x 10 - 5 m 3 /min x 988

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= 0.0494 kg/s

= 0.0329 kg/s

Minimum heat capacity, C m i n

= C x Cp C
= 0.0329 kg/s x 4.179 kJ/kg.K
= 0.1375 kJ/s.K

Heat transferred,

qH

= H Cp H (T H i n T H o u t )
= 0.0494 kg/s x 4.185 kJ/kg.K x (333 326) K
= 1.4472 W

Maximum heat transferred, q m a x

= C m i n (T H i n T C i n )
= 0.1375 kJ/s.K (333 302) K
= 4.2625 W

Efficiency,

qH

x 100%

q max
= 1.4472 W x 100%
= 4.2625 W
= 33.95 %
Log Mean Temperature Difference, T l m =

T i n - T o u t
ln (T i n / T o u t )

= (333-302)K (326-312)K

ln ((333-302)K/(326-312)K)
= 21.39 K

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Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, U =

q
A x T l m

1.4448 W
0.067 m 2 x 21.39 K

= 1.0098 W/m 2 K

Heat Exchanger

Parallel Flow
Counter Flow

T (C)
40
50
60
40
50
60

q H (W )
0.4128
1.0327
1.4472
0.6192
1.0327
1.4471

q m a x (W )
1.5125
2.8875
4.2625
1.5125
2.8875
4.2625

(%)
27.29
35.76
33.95
40.94
35.76
33.95

Average

(%)

(W /m 2 K)
0.6962
1.0885
1.0098
1.2144
1.0885
1.0429

32.33
36.88

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Part B: Constant temperature, varies flow rates

Counter flow at 4000 cm 3 /min:

The temperature is fixed at 60C. Take the density of saturated water, =
988 kg/ m

, the specific heat capacity of hot and cold water as CpH @ 6 0 C

= 4.185 kJ/kg.K and CpC @ 2 7 C = 4.179 kJ/kg.K respectively and the heat
m

transmission area, A = 0.067

H = 4 00 0 cm 3 / m in = 6 .6 7 x 1 0 - 5 m 3 / s

C = 2 00 0 cm 3 / m in = 3 .3 3 x 1 0 - 5 m 3 / s

H = H

C = C

= 6 .6 7 x 1 0 - 5 m 3 / s x 98 8 kg/

m3

= 3. 33 x10 - 5 m 3 /m in x 98 8 kg/

m3
= 6 .5 9 x 1 0 - 2 kg/ s

Minimum heat capacity, C m i n

= 0 .0 32 9 kg/ s

= C x Cp C
= 0.0329 kg/s x 4.179 kJ/kg.K
= 0.1375 kJ/s.K

Heat transferred, q H = H Cp H (T H i n T H o u t )
= 6.59 x 10 - 2 kg/s x 4.185 kJ/kg.K x (333 327) K
= 1.6547 W
Maximum heat transferred, q m a x = C m i n (T H i n T C i n )
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= 0.1375 kJ/s.K (333 300) K

= 4.5375 W

Efficiency, =

qH

x 100%

qmax
= 1.6547 W x 100%
4.5375 W
= 36.47 %
Log Mean Temperature Difference, T l m =

T i n - T o u t
ln (T i n / T o u t )

= (333-300)K (327-312)K

ln ((333-300)K/(327-312)K)
= 22.83 K
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, U =

q
A x T l m

1.6547 W
0.067 m 2 x 22.83 K

= 1.0818 W/m 2 K
Heat

Flow

Exchanger

Rate

q H (W)

q m a x (W )

(%)

Average

(%)

(W /m 2 K)

(cm 3 /min)

Parallel
Flow
Counter

2000
3000
4000

1.2392
1.6539
1.6547

4.5375
4.5375
4.5375

27.31
36.45
36.47

2000
3000
4000

1.3769
1.6539
1.6547

4.5373
4.5375
4.5375

30.34
36.45
36.47

33.41

34.42

0.8101
1.139
1.0818
0.9572
1.1139
1.0818
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Flow

SAMPLE ERROR CALCULATIONS

Part A: Constant flow rate, varies temperatures

Parallel flow :
Percentage of error = 100% %calculated value
100
= 100% 32.33 %
100 %
= 0.6767%

Part B: Constant temperature, varies flow rates

Counter Flow :
Percentage of error = 100% %calculated value
100
= 100% 34.42 %
100 %
= 0.6558%

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DISCUSSION

There are a few objectives which are to be achieved in this

experiment; to demonstrate the working principles of concentric flow heat
exchanger

under

parallel

as

well

as

counter

flow

conditions,

to

demonstrate the effect of heat water inlet temperature variation on the

performance characteristics of a concentric tube heat exchanger, to
demonstrate the effect of flow rate variation on the performance of a
concentric tube heat exchanger and the most important part of the
objectives is to determine the most efficient flow of concentric tube heat
exchanger whether it is the parallel flow or counter-current flow.

concentric

tube

heat

exchanger

is

used

to

archive

these

objectives. The heat exchanger itself is combined with thermometers and

flow rate meters. Thus, the control of the hot fluids temperatures and both
hot and cold fluids flow rates are made easier. We can observe the values
of T H i n , T H o u t , T H m i d , T C m i d , T C i n , and T C o u t . This experiment is conducted with
two parts of separated conditions, which are by varying the flow rates at
constant temperature and b y varying the temperatures at constant flow
rate.

Part A is conducted by varying the temperatures from 40C, 50 and

60C at 3000 cm 3 /min of the hot fluids flow rate and 2000 cm 3 /min for the
cold fluids flow rate. The efficiency of parallel flow calculated is 32.33%
and values of the overall heat transfer coefficients are 0.6962 W/m 2 K at
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40C 1.0885 W/m 2 K at 50C and 1.0098 W/m 2 K at 60 C. In contrary, the

calculated results for counter flow is 36.88 % of efficiency and the overall
heat transfer coefficients are 1.2144 W/m 2 K at 40C, 1.0885 W/m 2 K at
50C and 1.0429 W/m 2 K at 60C.

Part B is conducted with constant temperature at 27C yet varying

fluid flow rates. However, the cold fluid flow rate is maintained constant at
2000 cm 3 /min for both parallel and counter flow. The calculated efficiency
for parallel flow is 33.41% whereas the overall heat transfer coefficient is
0.8101 W/m 2 K at 2000 cm 3 /min of hot fluid flow rates, 0.9572 W/m 2 K at
3000 cm 3 /min and 1.0818 W/m 2 K at 4000 cm 3 /min. For counter flow, the
efficiency is 34.42% meanwhile the heat transfer coefficients are 0.9572
W/m 2 K at 2000 cm 3 /min, 1.1139 W/m 2 K at 3000 cm 3 /min and 1.0818 W/m 2 K
at 4000 cm 3 /min.

Notice that for both experiments in part A and Part B, the counter
flow produce greater efficiency than parallel flow. This result follows the
theoretical conclusion where counter flow heat exchanger is more efficient
than parallel flow. However, there are a lot of errors and mistakes that
may have affected the results obtained. The very common error occurs
during conducting the experiments are careless wa y of reading the
thermometers when taking the temperatures of fluids. The eye of an
observer must be parallel to the thermometer meniscus to avoid parallax
error. Another mistake that may have been committed is not pressing the
enter button after setting the temperatures. This has caused a minor
problem when the temperature always manipulate even after setting it to
the desired temperature. Besides that, the flow rates always change easil y
during the experiments. Moreover, the reading of T H

in

from the typical

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laboratory thermometer is merely different from the reading on the digital

thermometer.

CONCLUSION

In Part A, counter flow is more efficient than parallel flow. For

parallel flow, the average efficiency is 32.33%, whereas the overall heat
transfer coefficient, U, is 0.6962 W/m 2 K at 40C, 1.0885 W/m 2 K at 50C,
and 1.0098 W/m 2 K at 60C. For counter flow, the average efficiency is
36.88%, whereas the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, is 1.2144 W/m 2 K
at 40C, 1.0885 W/m 2 K at 50C, and 1.0429 W/m 2 K at 60C.

In part B, counter flow is also more efficient than parallel flow. For
parallel flow, the average efficiency is 33.41%, whereas the overall heat
transfer coefficient, U, is 0.8101 W/m 2 K at 2000 cm 3 /min, 1.1139 W/m 2 K at
3000 cm 3 /min, and 1.0818 W/m 2 K at 4000 cm 3 /min. For counter flow, the
average efficiency is 34.42%, whereas the overall heat transfer
coefficient, U, is 0.9572 W/m 2 K at 2000 cm 3 /min, 1.1139 W/m 2 K at 3000
cm 3 /min, and 1.0818 W/m 2 K at 4000 cm 3 /min.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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There are a few recommendations and precautions that have to be

considered when conducting this experiment so that better results can be
obtained with fewer errors.

First and foremost, the e ye of an observer must be parallel to the

meniscus when reading the temperatures. This is to assure that no
parallax error is committed.

Secondly, the experiment should at least be repeated 3 times in

order to get average values. Thus, comparisons can be made and the
results are more convincing and precise.

Thirdl y, the flow rates as well as the temperatures must be

monitored thoroughly during the experiment so that the y remain constant.
This is to avoid such erroneous results or else, the objectives of the
experiment may not be achieved successfull y.

Besides that, any leakage of the instruments involved should be

avoided and the y should be assured to work properly. In addition, an y
direct contact with the water or the instruments should as well be avoided
as this experiment involves hot fluids which can cause burn to skin.

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REFERENCES

1. Fundamental of Heat and Mass Tramsfer ( 6th Edition,) John

Wiley & sons (Asia) Pte Ltd
2. Saunders, E. A. (1988). Heat Exchanges: Selection, Design and
Construction. New York: Longman Scientific and Technical.

APPENDICES

Refer to the attachment provided on the next page.

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