Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat

Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated

Vessel

Date : November 10, 2023

Prepared by : NFL
Checked by : Vegapunk
Revision : 0
Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

1. Basic Understanding

Agitated vessels with an external jacket or an internal coil are increasingly employed in
biotechnology and other process applications. The most common type of jackets consists of an
outer cylinder that surrounds part of the vessel. The heating or cooling medium circulates in the
annular space between the jacket and vessel walls.

The rate of heat transfer to or from an agitated

liquid mass in a vessel depends on the physical
properties of the liquid (e.g. density, viscosity
and specific heat) and of the heating or cooling
medium, the vessel geometry and the degree of
agitation. The type and size of the agitator and
its location also influence the rate. An agitator is
selected on the basis of material properties and
the processing required. The heat transfer
forms part of a process operation, such as
suspended or dissolving solids, dispersing a
gas in a liquid, emulsifying immiscible liquids or
regulating chemical reactions.

When processing is controlled by heat transfer

variables, a log mean temperature difference
(ΔT_LMTD) and heat transfer surface area will
predominate over the agitation variables.
Provided it is sufficient to give a homogeneous
process fluid temperature, increased agitation
can only reduce the inside film resistance,
which is one of the number of resistances that
determine the overall heat transfer coefficient.

Consider a vessel containing an agitated liquid. Heat transfer occurs mainly through forced
convection in the liquid, conduction through the vessel wall, forced convection in the jacket
media, finally combined of natural and forced convection in outer side . The calculation are start
by applying basic energy balance and derive the equation that occurs in both vessel and jacket
side. For vessel side :

H𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 − 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 ±

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡

and for vessel side :

H𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 − 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 ± 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡
± 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

Since this is the time dependent calculation which is temperature always change by the time until
reached steady state, the accumulation will not zero. For both vessel and jacket side respectively
:

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
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Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

𝑑𝑄𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙
𝑑𝑡
= 𝑄𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 − 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 ± 𝑄𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡

𝑑𝑄𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡
= 𝑄𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 − 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 − 𝑄𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 ± 𝑄𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
𝑑𝑡

thus for both vessel side and jacket side, respectively :

𝑑𝑄𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙
= 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 ± (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑄𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡
= 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 − 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 ± (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉 ± (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇)𝐽𝐴
𝑑𝑡

The subscript JV and JS are stands for jacket to vessel and jacket to ambient surrounding heat
transfer. Let's take considering a vessel side is batch process, hence :

𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 0 and Q= 𝑚 𝐶𝑝 ΔT

Then obtained :

𝑑𝑇
m Cp = ± (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉
𝑑𝑡

Please note that heat always travels from the higher temperature to the lower temperature.
Minus/plus sign could vary depend inside temperature of tank. For this tank, hot water are
applied to the jacket, heating the vessel content. Thus, jacket temperature are higher than inside
tank. The heat will travel from jacket to inside tank. Therefore, the sign are positive and inside
tank temperature will increase.

𝑑𝑇 (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉
=
𝑑𝑡 𝑚 𝐶𝑝

continue deriving subjected to product temperature :

𝑑𝑇𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉

= .....................[Eq1]
𝑑𝑡 𝜌𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑉𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡

From Eq1, taking integral on both side and put 0 to target time as lower and upper integral limit,
yielded final form :

𝑇_𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡_𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡
(𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉
න 𝑑𝑇𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = න 𝑑𝑡 .....................[Eq2]
𝜌𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑉𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙 𝐶𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡
𝑇_𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 0

ΔTLMTD is log mean temperatur difference, which is logaritmic average of the temperature
difference between hot and cold fluid for both inside vessel and jacket.

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

Δ𝑇1 − Δ𝑇2
Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 =
𝑙𝑛Δ𝑇1 −𝑙𝑛Δ𝑇2

and respectively :

Δ𝑇1 = 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 Δ𝑇2 = 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛

The step above are repeated for jacket side. Since the jacket fluid media always flows for
heating/cooling, thus F_inlet = F_outlet ≠ 0, and derivation are continue giving :

𝑑𝑇𝑚 𝐹𝑚 𝐶𝑝𝑚 Δ𝑇𝑚 − (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉 − (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇)𝐽𝐴

= .....................[Eq3]
𝑑𝑡 𝜌𝑚 𝑉𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑚

The subscript m are correspond to heating/cooling media of the jacket and:

Δ𝑇𝑚 = 𝑇𝑚_𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇𝑚_𝑜𝑢𝑡

integrating :
𝑇_𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡_𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡
𝐹𝑚 𝐶𝑝𝑚 Δ𝑇𝑚 − (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 )𝐽𝑉 − (𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇)𝐽𝐴
න 𝑑𝑇𝑚 = න 𝑑𝑡
𝜌𝑚 𝑉𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑡 𝐶𝑝𝑚
𝑇_𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 0

.....................[Eq4]
2. Calculation Guide

2.1. UA calculation

According to Eq2 and Eq4 above, both equation required UA parameter which is overall heat
transfer coefficient and heat transfer area. Now we are going to determine them. Overall heat
loss/trasnfer formula :
Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷
Q= 𝑈𝐴Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷 or simply Q= 𝑅

where R is heat ressistance, which :

1
R=
𝑈𝐴

Based on cylindrical geometry, heat are transferred in two direction, radial direction side
(concentrical) and axial direction side (vertical). Let's taking assumption that heat are travels only
in shell side (radial direction) of the vessel. Then :

for conduction ressisstance : for convection ressisstance :

𝐷
ln( 𝑜𝑢𝑡ൗ𝐷 ) 1
R= 𝑖𝑛 ...............[Eq5] R = ℎπ𝐷𝐿 ...............[Eq6]
2π𝐿𝑘

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Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

By combining of all conduction and convection ressistance :

𝑅𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 = ෍ 𝑅1𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 + 𝑅2𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 + 𝑅3𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 + … . 𝑅𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙

............[Eq7]

Then we got UA for shell side :

1
𝑈𝐴𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 =
𝑅𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙
And total heat loss/transferred :
𝑄𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑈𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 Δ𝑇𝐿𝑀𝑇𝐷

2.2. Method of calculation heat transfer coefficient (h)

2.2.1. Heat transfer coefficient inside the vessel (hi)

The calculation of heat transfer coefficent (h) always dependent on the properties of the fluid
itself and the fluid condition. For the vessel equipped with agitator, the fluid inside the vessel will
move following agitator motion, hence causing the heat spread along the inside vessel. This is
are called forced convection which is heat transfering by motion of the fluid. The inside film heat
transfer coefficient (hi) can be calculated from the following Nusselt number correlation:

𝑁𝑁𝑢 𝑘 ............[Eq8]
ℎ𝑖 =
𝐷𝑇

Also Nusselt's number is dimensionless number, are calculated by Reynold's number and
Prandtl's number:
2
𝜌𝑚 𝑁𝐷𝐴
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = ............[Eq9]
𝜇𝑚

𝐶𝑝𝑚 μ𝑚
𝑁𝑃𝑟 = ............[Eq10]
𝑘𝑚

Now Nusselt's number are calculated as follows :

μ𝑏 𝑑
𝑁𝑁𝑢 = a𝑁𝑅𝑒 𝑏 𝑁𝑃𝑟 𝑐 ............[Eq11]
μ𝑤

where :
hi = heat transfer coefficient inside vessel, W/m2 0C
NNu = Nusselt's number
DA = impeller diameter, m
DT = vessel internal diameter, m
NRe = Reynlod's number
ρm = average fluid density, kg/m3

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel
N = agitator speed, rpm
NPr = Prandtl's number
Cpm = average fluid specific heat, Jkg/0C
km = average fluid thermal conductivity, W/m 0C
μm = average fluid dynamic viscosity, Pa.s
μb = fluid bulk viscosity, Pa.s
μw = fluid wall viscosity, Pa.s

And a, b, c, and d are the coefficient depending on Reynolds number and type of agitator. Table
bellow shows numerous type agitator and its correction factor that generally used in industry.

Geometry factor
Agitator type Flow region
a b c d

Laminar 0.415 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.36 0.67 0.33 0.14

Paddle

Laminar 0.54 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 1.1 0.62 0.33 0.14

Flat blade 6 turbine

Laminar 0.54 0.66667 0.25 0.14

Turbulence 0.64 0.67 0.33 0.14

Propeller

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

Geometry factor
Agitator type Flow region
a b c d

Laminar 0.54 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.54 0.67 0.33 0.14

Pitch blade turbine.

Laminar 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.33 0.67 0.33 0.14

Retreating 3 blade turbine, glass steel

Laminar 0.37 0.37 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.37 0.37 0.33 0.14

Retreating 3 blade turbine, alloy steel

Laminar 0.68 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.68 0.67 0.33 0.14

Retreating 6 blade turbine

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

Geometry factor
Agitator type Flow region
a b c d

Laminar 0.38 0.67 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.55 0.67 0.25 0.14

Anchor

Laminar 0.248 0.5 0.33 0.14

Turbulence 0.248 0.67 0.33 0.14

Helical ribbon

When the agitator are not equipped, the heat only travel due to differences density between hot
fluid and cold fluid. The hold fluid are lighter than cold fluid, thus hot fluid will float and it's place
will be replaced by cold fluid. This phenomena are called natural convection, which heat
transfering without any external forces. Than the Nusselt's number as follows :

1ൗ 2
0.387𝑁𝑅𝑎 6
𝑁𝑁𝑢 = 0.6 + 8ൗ
9ൗ 27 ............[Eq12]
0.559 16
1+
𝑁𝑃𝑟

Which NRa is Rayleigh number, ν is kinematic viscosity, and α is thermal diffusivity:

𝑔 𝛽 𝛥𝑇 𝐷𝑇3 𝜇 𝑘
𝑁𝑅𝑎 = ν=
𝜌
α= ρ𝐶𝑝
𝜈𝛼

β = thermal expansion, 1/0C

g = gravity constant, 9.8 m/s2
ΔT = characteristic temperature difference, 0C
DT = vessel diameter, m
ν = kinematic viscosity, m2/s

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

2.2.2. Heat transfer coefficient inside the jacketl (hj)

Many jacketed vessels are reactors; the types of exothermic or endothermic effects must be
taken into account. Stirred tank reactors in which an exothermic reaction is performed may
involve the removal of substantial amounts of heat from the reacting mixture. Refluxing of a
boiling solvent is a common method; the heat of vaporization of the solvent is removed by the
reflux condenser, and the condensed solvent is returned to the reactor. Other methods include
cooling the walls of the reactor by means of a jacket with a cooling medium, inserting a cooling
coil, or using an external heat exchanger with a pump around the system. In many applications
using jacketed vessels, successive batches of material are heated (or cooled) to a given
temperature, and therefore the heat transfer involves an unsteady state process. Proper care is
essential in terms of charging, agitation and adequate cooling of the reactants to prevent the
generated heat from subsequently leading to a runaway reaction.

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Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

Nusselt's number for jacket side also applied with same procedural in agitator.

Geometry factor
Jacket type Flow region
a b c d

Turbulence 0.027 0.65 0.33 0.14

Conventional jacket

Turbulence 0.027 0.85 0.33 0.14

Conventional with spiral baffles

Turbulence 0.027 0.2 0.33 0.14

Half-pipe coil

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

Geometry factor
Jacket type Flow region
a b c d

Turbulence 0.0845 0.695 0.33 0.14

Dimple jacket

As most best practice, it is to consider that set the flow region to turbulence. It will enhancing
heat transfer coefficient.

2.2.3. Heat transfer coefficient outside the vessel (ho)

Sometimes vessel are placed inside or outside the building. Hence, we need to consider impact
of environmental to heat losses or transferred. Insulation are applied to cover the tank, especially
contained hot media to protect enveironment side from heat exposed from vessel. Air side (outer
side) heat transfer is due to combined effect of natural convection and forced convection.

For forced convection, Nusselt number are (Churchill & Bernstein correlation) :

5/8 4/5
0.62𝑅𝑒1/2 𝑃𝑟1/3 𝑅𝑒
𝑁𝑢𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 = 0.3 + 1/4
+ 1+ ............[Eq13]
0.42/3 282000
1+
𝑃𝑟

for free convection (Churchill & Chu correlation) :

1ൗ 2
0.387𝑁𝑅𝑎 6
𝑁𝑁𝑢 = 0.6 + 8ൗ ............[Eq12]
9ൗ 27
0.559 16
1+
𝑁𝑃𝑟

finally for combined Nusselt's number :

𝑁𝑁𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 = 𝑁𝑁𝑢𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 4 + 𝑁𝑁𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 4 ............[Eq14]

Then, air side heat transfer coefficient (ho) are calculated :

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Document No. : Date : 10-Nov-23
Revision No. : Prepared by : NFL
Basic Understanding and Calculation Guide for Heat
Tittle :
Transfer on Agitated, Jacketed, and Insulated Vessel

𝑁𝑁𝑢 𝑘
ℎ𝑜 =
𝐷𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙

2.3. Pratical guide to calculating method

As we see on [Eq2] and [Eq4] , the calculation involved integral in order to get final temperature
in certain interval time. However, I practical this method are difficult to use since thermal
properties (e.g. density, viscosity, thermal conductivity) are temperature dependent variable that
changes following temperature. Also, since we must to solve both equation simultaneously, it
would complicate the calculation. Numerical method are suggested to use for this kind of
calculation. Runge-Kutta method for solving differential equation will gives good result.

3. Refference

A Kayode Coker, and Ernest E Ludwig. Ludwig’s Applied Process Design for Chemical
and Petrochemical Plants. Amsterdam ; Boston, Elsevier Gulf Professional Pub, 2007.

Kresta, Suzanne M, et al. Advances in Industrial Mixing . John Wiley & Sons, 11 Mar.
2016.

Paul, Edward L, et al. Handbook of Industrial Mixing : Science and Practice . Hoboken,
N.J., Wiley-Interscience, Cop, 2004.

“Jacketed Vessel Heat Transfer (Half Pipe Coil).” Cheguide.com , 2016,

cheguide.com/jacket_vessel.html.

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