Heat Exchanger Effectiveness

To calculate Q, we need both inlet and outlet temperatures:

Q = UA∆Tm = UA(FT ∆Tlm)

T1′

∆Tlm =
(T1′ − T1) − (T2′ − T2)
T1 T2 (T ′ − T )
ln 1 1
(T2′ − T2)
T2′

What if the outlet temperatures are unknown? e.g. calculate

the performance of a given heat exchanger.

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

To calculate unknown outlet temperatures:

Procedure:
1. guess outlet temperatures
2. calculate ∆Tlm, FT
3. calculate Q
4. calculate Q from energy balance
5. compare, adjust, repeat.

This tedious procedure can be simplified by the definition

of heat-exchanger effectiveness, ε.

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

1
Heat Exchanger Effectiveness
Consider a counter-current double-pipe heat exchanger:
Tco

Thi Tho
Thi
Tco Tci′
Tho
Tci
distance along the exchanger

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Energy balance cold side:

( )
Qin,cold = Q = mC p cold (Tco − Tci )

Energy balance hot side:

( )
Qin,hot = −Q = mC p hot(Tho − Thi )

(mCp)hot (Tco − Tci) ∆Tc

(mCp)cold = − (Tho − Thi) = ∆Th

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

2
 ** REVIEW OF LECTURE 7 ** REVIEW OF LECTURE 7 **

Temperature profile in a double-pipe heat exchanger:

T′−T  1 1 
= eα 0 x α 0 = 2π RU  −
 Cˆ ′ m′ Cˆ m 
T1′ − T1  p p 

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

** REVIEW OF LECTURE 7 ** REVIEW OF LECTURE 7 **

 x
T′ −T α 0 L 
Note that the temperature curves are = e L
only approximately linear. T1′ − T1
 1 1 
α 0 L = 2πRLU  −
 Cˆ ′ m′ Cˆ m 
 p p 
120 1
T’ 0.9 U = 300 W / mK
100
0.8 2πRL = 15.4m 2

0.7 m′C p' = 6 kW / K

80
mC p = 3 kW / K
T, T' ( C)

0.6
o

60 0.5
T 0.4 T′ −T
40
0.3
T1′ − T1
0.2
20
0.1
0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x/L

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

3
 Case 1: (mC p)hot > (mC p)cold cold fluid = minimum fluid
∆Tc > ∆Th

Thi
∆Th
Tco
Tho
We want to compare ∆Tc
the amount of heat
transferred in this
case to the amount of Tci
heat transferred in a
PERFECT heat distance along the exchanger
exchanger.
© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

If the heat exchanger were perfect, Thi=Tco

Thi = Tco

Tho
cold side:
A=∞ Tci
this temperature difference distance along the exchanger
only depends on inlet
temperatures

( )
QA= ∞ = mC p cold (Thi − Tci )

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

4
 Heat Exchanger Effectiveness, ε
Q
ε≡
QA= ∞

( )
⇒ Q = ε mC p cold (Thi − Tci )
cold fluid = minimum fluid
if ε is known, we can calculate Q
without iterations

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Case 2: (mC p)hot < (mC p)cold hot fluid = minimum fluid
∆Tc < ∆Th

Thi
∆Th

Tco Tho
∆Tc
Tci

distance along the exchanger

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

5
If the heat exchanger were perfect, Thi=Tco
Thi
Tco
Tho = Tci
hot side: A=∞
this temperature difference
distance along the exchanger
only depends on inlet
temperatures

( )
QA= ∞ = mC p hot(Thi − Tci )

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Q
Heat Exchanger Effectiveness, ε ε≡
QA= ∞

( )
⇒ Q = ε mC p hot(Thi − Tci )
hot fluid = minimum fluid

in general,

( )
Q = ε mC p min(Thi − Tci )
if ε is known, we can calculate Q
without iterations

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

6
 But where do we get ε ?
The same equations we use in the trial-and-error solution
can be combined algebraically to give ε as a function of
(mCp)min, (mCp)max.

counter-  
current flow:  −UA  (mC p )min  
 1− 
(mCp )min  (mCp )max 
 
−
ε =  
1 e
−UA   ( )
p min 

( )
mC
 mC p (mCp )min  (mCp )min  
1−
 1 − mC
( )
min e 
 p max 
This relation is plotted in Geankoplis, as is the relation for co-current flow.

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

Heat Exchanger Effectiveness for

Double-pipe or 1-1 Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
counter-current co-current

Geankoplis 4th ed., p299

note: Geankoplis’
Cmin=(mCp)min

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.

7
 Final Exam
CM 310
November 16, 1998
3. (25 points) Water flowing at a rate of 0.723 kg/s enters the
inside of a countercurrent, double-pipe heat exchanger at 300K and
is heated by an oil stream that enters at 385K at a rate of 3.2kg/s.
The heat capacity of the oil is 1.89 kJ/kg K, and the average heat
capacity of water over the temperature range of interest is 4.192
kJ/kg K. The overall heat-transfer coefficient of the exchanger is
300 W/m2 K, and the area for heat transfer is 15.4 m2. What is the
total amount of heat transferred?

© Faith A. Morrison, Michigan Tech U.