Discussions

Comments on trend
Three graphs were plotted which were the log-log plots of Nusselt Number (Nu) vs. Reynolds
Number and water side heat transfer coefficient (hi) vs. water side velocity and also the Wilson
plots of different pressure were plotted.
1. Figure 02, Figure 03, Figure 04 shows that Nusselt Number increases with Reynold Number
for 5, 10 and 15 psig steam pressure and the increments are of linear manner.
2. Figure 05, Figure 06, Figure 07 shows that water side heat transfer co-efficient increases with
velocity of water for 5, 10 and 15 psig steam pressure. These are also straight lines.
3. In Figure 08, Figure 09, Figure 10 Wilson plot i.e. plot (1/U) vs (1/v) 0.8 were plotted for
theoretical and experimental value for 5, 10 and 15 psig steam pressure. All the lines were found
to be straight lines. Theoretical and experimental lines were found to be different for each steam
pressure.

Comments on analytical behavior

1/U vs. 1/v0.8 plots(Wilson plot) for different pressure for both theoretical and experimental
overall heat transfer coefficients show straight lines in normal coordinate. As the experimental
findings of overall heat transfer coefficients were generally lower than the theoretical ones, the
1/U curve for theoretical values was in below the curve for experimental values. At the times of
calculating the theoretical overall heat transfer coefficients the resistance due to the formation of
scale or dirt was not taken into consideration. Hence, Fouling or other factors are left from the
calculation. In reality, the performance and efficiency of any heat exchanger are subject to these
factors and this is why industrial exchangers are dismantled routinely after operating a certain
period for cleaning dirts that are deposited on the wall.
In connection to the above discussion, the experimental resistance curve should be located above
the theoretical resistance curve and the difference between them should indicate the value of
fouling factor and this is proved well in a Wilson plot.
Comments on error
In this experiment, the experimental values almost satisfied the theoretical values except few
discrepancies. The possible reasons of the discrepancies are mentioned below-
 The steam pressure was expected to be constant during the experiment. But in practical it
was not constant throughout the experiment.
 For heat transfer coefficient determination the vapor pressure was neglected and the
condensation was considered to be laminar and film type. But in the experiment the
assumptions could not be satisfied.
 The unsteady nature of condensate flow might cause some error in the determination of
corresponding condensate weight for a given flow of water.
 Heat lost during the experiment due to convection and conduction were not considered in
the calculation.
 The condensate was collected at a definite time interval. There might be some error in
taking correct time for particular weight.