Plate finned tube heat exchanger

Design: Several thin stainless-steel sheets are stacked to form a plate fin heat exchanger. The water is

heated using air using this heat exchanger.

Given:

N = 10

Th,i = 309K

Tc,i = 278K

Volumetric flow rate (hot fluid) = 250L/s

Th,o = 285K

Tc,o = 284K

Assumptions:

1. No heat is lost to the environment.

2. No losses in kinetic and potential energy.
3. Properties are constant.
4. No fouling and heat resistance for plate.
5. conditions for the air and water are fully developed.
6. Identical heat transfer coefficients from gap to gap.
7. The gap width is small in comparison to the heat exchanger's outer dimensions.

Solution:

The film temperature of the hot fluid; Air:

T h , i+T h , o 309 K +285 K

Th,f = = =297 K
2 2

Interpolated from Table A.4 at 297K of Air;

Cp,c = 1.00694 kJ/kg-K

µ = 183.1x10-7 N-s/m2
 k = 26.06x10-3 W/m-K

ρ = 1.175398 kg/m3

The film temperature of the cold fluid; water:

T c ,i +T c ,o 284 K +278 K
Tc,f = = =281 K
2 2

Interpolated from Table A.6 at 281K of water;

Cp,c = 4.193 kJ/kg-K

µ = 1341x10-6 N-s/m2

k = 583x10-3 W/m-K

Calculating the rate of heat transfer for a hot fluid using Equation 11.6b

Mass flow rate = ρ x volumetric flow rate

= 1.175398 kg/m3 x 250 L/s x 1m3/1000L

= 0.2939 kg/s

q = 𝑚̇hCp,h(Th,I – Th,o) = ¿0.2939 kg/s)( 1.00694 kJ/kg-K)(309K-285K)

q = 7102.55 W

Calculating the rate of mass flow for a cold fluid using Equation 11.6b

q = 𝑚̇cCp,c(Tc,I – Tc,o)

7.102kW = 𝑚̇c(4.193 kJ/kg-K)(284K-278K)

𝑚̇c = 0.28kg/s

Using Table 8.1 and assuming laminar flow for both fluids,

NuD= 7.54
Equation 8.66 gives us;

Dh = 2x; where x = L/N

Dh = 2( NL )=2( 10L )= L5
calculating the air's convection coefficient using Equation 8.69;

−3
26.06 x 1 0 W
(7.54)( )
hh = N u d k mK 0.982462 2
= = W /m K
Dh L/5 L

calculating the water's convection coefficient using Equation 8.69

−3
583 x 10 W
(7.54)( )
hc = N u c k mK 21.9791 2
= = W /m K
Dc L/5 L

based on counterflow in Equation 8.17;

ΔT1 = Th,I – Tc,o = 309K – 284K = 25K

ΔT2 = Th,o – Tc,i = 285K – 278K = 7K

the log mean temperature difference is calculated using Equation 11.15;

Δ T 1−Δ T 2 25 K −7 K
= =14.14 K
ΔTlm = Δ T1 25
ln ⁡( ) ln ⁡( )
Δ T2 7

Equation 11.5 provides the overall convection coefficient.

1 1 1 1 1
= + = +
U hc hh 21.9791 0.982462
W /m2 K W /m2 K
L L
 0.940425 2
U= W /m K
L

the tube length is calculated using Equation 11.14;

q = UAΔTlm; where A = L2(N-1)