Unit 13: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines

Unit code D/615/1487

Unit level 4 Credit value 15

ASSIGNMENT 1 OUTCOME 3
HEAT EXCHANGERS

L03 Examine the principles of heat transfer to industrial applications

D3 Distinguish the
P6 Determine the heat transfer M3 Explore heat losses through differences between parallel
through composite walls lagged and unlagged pipes and counter flow recuperator
heat exchangers
P7 Apply heat transfer
formulae to heat
exchangers

This assignment contributes to P6, P7, M3 and D3.

You should write a report showing all the tasks detailed below in full and indicate the source
of your data. The report should be written in appropriate technical language.

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk
PART 1

A cylindrical steel vessel 2.5 m outer diameter has hemispherical domed ends and is to be
o
used in a refinery for a certain process the vessel will contain a solution at 250 C. The wall of
the vessel is 12.5 mm thick and it is 10 m from top to bottom on the outside.
o
Estimate the rate of heat loss from the vessel when the outside air temperature is 10 C.

The thermal conductivity of the steel is 45 W/m K and the surface heat transfer coefficient on
the air side is 8 W/m2. On the inside it is 65 W/m2.

The vessel is to be covered in lagging 25 mm thick with a thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/m
K. The surface heat transfer coefficient remains the same.

Calculate the reduction in the rate of heat loss.

PART 2
A parallel heat exchanger is available to be adapted for recovering waste heat from hot waste
gas and using it to heat water. The heat exchanger contains 138 tubes each 50 mm diameter
and 2 m long with thin walls made of a steel.

Your task is to investigate how much hot water can be produced and how much hot gas will
be needed.
Using the available data below:
Determine the flow rate of water and gas for parallel and contra flow configurations and
compare them.

AVAILABLE DATA

The water is required to be heated from 10oC to 95oC.

The surface heat transfer coefficients for the water = 1500 W/m2 K
The specific heat capacity of the water is 4.19 kJ/kg K.

The gas temperature at inlet = 350oC and may be cooled to 120oC.

The surface heat transfer coefficients for the gas = 300 W/m2 K
Mean specific heat of the gasses cp = 1.13 kJ/kg K

The wall is thin so the temperature drop due to conduction is negligible.

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk