Executive Summary

This laboratory report presents a detailed analysis on a series of experiments conducted to

compare the heat transfer rate in both parallel and counter flow operation in two types of
heat exchanger. This experiment was completed with the ‘WL 110-SERIES’ heat exchanger
service unit using a shell and tube heat exchanger as well as a tubular heat exchanger. Setting
the desired flow rate and setpoint temperature, the temperature plots and various
parameters were noted, observed and the results are discussed in detail in this report. In both
types of heat exchangers, it was observed that greater heat transfer rate was obtained in a
countercurrent design as opposed to a parallel flow design. The temperature gradient
observed in the temperature plots showed a constant flow of heat and great heat recovery
rate in the countercurrent connections in both the types of heat exchangers. Selecting the
right type of heat exchanger depends on many factors like pressure drop, area of heat
transfer, temperature, type of application etc. In this experiment the tubular heat exchanger
offered slightly greater mean heat flow than the shell and tube heat exchanger owing to its
greater mean average area of heat transfer which eclipsed the higher LMTD obtained by the
shell and tube exchanger.