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The Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference


(Errors and omissions are expected)

Assumptions

To derive the mathematical expression of the logarithmic mean temperature difference,
the following assumptions are made:

1. The overall heat transfer coefficient is constant over the entire length of the heating
surface (of the heat exchanger).
2. The flowrates of cold and hot fluids are not varying with time (constant). The steady-
state conditions are therefore established.
3. The system is considered adiabatic and the heat losses are negligibly small.
4. Variations of the properties of the fluids with temperature are small enough to be
neglected. Thus specific heat capacities are taken as constants.
5. No phase change occurs in either of the fluids.




Fig. 1 Selection of a surface element in the heat exchanger body. The figure shows
cocurrent flow direction. For nomenclature see p. 4. Figure is taken from Cengel, Y.A.
(2003). Heat transfer: A practical approach. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Singapore.


q
2
Mathematical derivation

Applying energy balance around the differential element dA


h ph h
dT c G q = o (1)


c pc c
dT c G q = o (2)


Eq. 1 and Eq. 2 may be rearranged to give Eq. 3 and Eq. 4, respectively



ph h
h
c G
q
dT

=
o
(3)


pc c
c
c G
q
dT

=
o
(4)


Subtracting Eq. 4 from Eq. 3, it may shown that



pc c ph h
c h
c G
q
c G
q
dT dT

=
o o
(5)


|
|
.
|

\
|

=
pc c ph h
c h
c G c G
q T T d
1 1
) ( o (6)

Also, it can be written that


) (
c h
T T dA U q = o (7)


|
|
.
|

\
|

=
pc c ph h
c h c h
c G c G
T T dA U T T d
1 1
) ( ) ( (8)


|
|
.
|

\
|

pc c ph h c h
c h
c G c G
dA U
T T
T T d 1 1 ) (
(9)

3
Integrating between limits inlet and exit of the heat exchanger length, it may be shown
that


} }
|
|
.
|

\
|

out
in
pc c ph h
out
in
c h
c h
c G c G
dA U
T T
T T d 1 1 ) (
(10)


|
|
.
|

\
|

pc c ph h in c in h
out c out h
c G c G
A U
T T
T T
1 1
ln
, ,
, ,
(11)

But
) (
, , out h in h ph h
T T c G q = which gives
out h in h
ph h
T T
q
c G
, ,

= (12)
) (
, , in c out c pc c
T T c G q = which gives
in c out c
pc c
T T
q
c G
, ,

= (13)


|
|
|
|
.
|

\
|

in c out c out h in h
in c in h
out c out h
T T
q
T T
q
A U
T T
T T
, , , ,
, ,
, ,
1 1
ln (14)

( )
in c out c out h in h
in c in h
out c out h
T T T T
q
A U
T T
T T
, , , ,
, ,
, ,
ln +

(15)



( )
in c in h
out c out h
out c out h in c in h
T T
T T
T T T T
A U q
, ,
, ,
, , , ,
ln
( )


= (16)



( )
in c in h
out c out h
out c out h in c in h
T T
T T
T T T T
A U q
, ,
, ,
, , , ,
ln
( )


= (17)


( )
2
1
2 1
, ,
, ,
, , , ,
ln
ln
( )
T
T
T T
A U
T T
T T
T T T T
A U q
out c out h
in c in h
out c out h in c in h
A
A
A A
=


= (18)


in c in h
T T T
, , 1
= A (19)

4

out c out h
T T T
, , 2
= A (20)


) / ln(
2 1
2 1
T T
T T
T
lm
A A
A A
= A (21)


Generally, we can write


1 1 1 c h
T T T = A (22)


2 2 2 c h
T T T = A (23)


Nomenclature

A heat transfer area of the exchanger, m
2

c
G mass flowrate of cold fluid, kgs
1
h
G mass flowrate of hot fluid, kgs
1
pc
c
cold fluid specific heat capacity, Jkg
1
K
1

pc
c
cold fluid specific heat capacity, Jkg
1
K
1

q rate of heat transfer, W
T temperature of fluid, K
U overall heat transfer coefficient, Wm
2
K
1
in h
T
,
temperature of the hot fluid entering into the exchanger, K
in c
T
,
temperature of the cold fluid entering into the exchanger, K
out h
T
,
temperature of the hot fluid leaving the exchanger, K
out c
T
,
temperature of the cold fluid leaving the exchanger, K
lm
T A logarithmic mean temperature difference, K
1
T A temperature difference on the hot fluid side, K
2
T A temperature difference on the cold fluid side, K

Interested reader can derive the same expression for countercurrent
flow. It may possibly be an examination question.

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