Heat Exchangers

Introduction
Heat Exchanger is an adiabatic steady flow device in which two flowing fluids
exchange or transfer heat between themselves due to a temperature difference without
losing or gaining any heat from the ambient atmosphere.

Hot fluid Hot fluid

in out
Q

Cold Cold fluid

fluid in out

Heat Exchanger (Insulated device)

Some examples:

Heat Exchangers Heat exchange occurs between

Steam condenser Steam Cooling water
Economiser Flue gases Feed water
Superheater Flue gases Saturated vapor
Cooling tower Hot water Atmospheric air
Air preheater Flue gases Combustion air

Classification of heat Exchangers

1. Direct transfer type heat exchanger

2. Direct contact type heat exchanger

3. Regenerative type heat exchanger

1. Direct transfer type heat exchanger :- In direct type heat exchanger both the fluids
could not come into contact with each other but the transfer of heat occurs through the
pipe wall of separation.

Examples:-

1. Concentric type heat exchanger

2. Economiser

3. Super heater

4. Double pipe heat exchanger

5. Pipe in pipe heat exchanger

h1
hot fluid

Wall of
h2 cold fluid separation

h1 = heat transfer rate on hot side in W/m2 - K

h2 = heat transfer rate on cold side in W/m2 – K

2. Direct Contact type heat exchanger :- In direct contact type heat exchanger, the
working fluids come in direct contact in order to exchange heat between each other.
These type of exchangers are utilized when the mixing of two fluids is either harmless
or desirable.

Examples :-

1. Cooling tower

2. Jet Condenser
3. Regenerative type heat exchanger :- In this type of heat exchanger , hot and cold
fluids alternatively pass through the high heat capacity material , one giving the heat to
the material and the other picking up heat from it.

Example :- Ljungstorm air preheater use in gas turbine power plants

Hot Hot and cold fluids Cold

fluid in alternatively flow through fluid in
matrix

High heat capacity

Cold Hot
cellulose matrix
fluid out fluid out

There can be a rotating matrix type regenerative heat exchanger which is shown below:

Hot Hot
fluid in fluid out

Cold Cold
fluid in fluid out
Classification of direct transfer type heat exchanger

1. Parallel flow heat exchanger

2. Counter flow heat exchanger

3. Cross flow heat exchanger

1. Parallel flow heat exchanger

In this type of heat exchanger, both the fluids flow in same direction.

Hot in Hot fluid out

Q Hot fluid

Cold fluid out

Cold in
Cold fluid

Wall of
Separation

Q = heat transfer rate between hot and cold fluid (vector quantity)

(top to bottom heat transfer in above case)

2. Counter flow heat exchanger

In this type of heat exchanger, both the fluids flow in opposite direction.
 Hot in Hot fluid out
dq Hot fluid

Cold in
Cold fluid out
Cold fluid

Wall of
Separation

Note: Wall of separation should possess high thermal conductivity (K) values

3. Cross flow heat exchanger

In this type of heat exchanger, both the fluids flow in perpendicular direction with
respect to each other.

Example:- Automobile radiator

Cold fluid out

Hot fluid in Hot fluid out

Cold fluid in
First law of thermodynamics applied to heat exchanger

Heat exchanger is a steady flow adiabatic device

According to Steady flow energy equation

Q’ – W =

(∆H)HE = 0

Where

Q’ = heat transfer between heat exchanger and surroundings = 0

W = work done in heat exchanger

(within heat exchanger)

= Change in kinetic energy

= Change in potential energy

(∆H)HE = 0

(∆H )hot fluid + (∆H)cold fluid = 0

(∆H )hot fluid =(∆H)cold fluid

(negative sign shows that enthalpy of hot fluid is decreasing)

Rate of enthalpy decrease of hot fluid = Rate of enthalpy increase of cold fluid

Hence, energy balance equation or heat balance equation is given by

mh Cph (Thi – The) = mc Cpc (Tce – Tci) watts (1)

where , mh = mass flow rate of hot fluid in kg/sec

Cph = specific heat capacity of hot fluid in J/kg-kelvin

mc = mass flow rate of cold fluid in kg/sec

 Cpc= specific heat capacity of cold fluid in J/kg-kelvin

Thi = inlet temperature of hot fluid in kelvin

The = exit temperature of hot fluid in kelvin

Tci = inlet temperature of cold fluid in kelvin

Tce = exit temperature of cold fluid in kelvin

Temperature profile of fluids in heat exchanger

For parallel flow

Inlet Exit

Hot in (Thi) dq1 dq2 Hot fluid out (The)

Hot fluid

Cold in (Tci) Cold fluid out (Tce)

Cold fluid

Wall of
Separation
L

x
Thi 1 2
Hot fluid

The
∆T
Tce

Cold fluid
Tci
2
1
The differential heat transfer rate dq between hot and cold fluids varies with x i.e from
inlet to exit because ∆T (the temperature difference between hot and cold fluids changes
from one location to another location of the heat exchanger.

The differential heat transfer dq1 at section 1-1 of the heat exchanger will be more as
compared to differential heat transfer dq2 at section 2-2 because ∆T at section 1-1 is more
than that in section 2-2.

Differential heat transfer is given by

dq = U ∆T dA (2)

where U = overall heat transfer coefficient in Watt/m2 –K

1 1 1
=h +h (without scaling of the surface of pipe)
Uclean 1 2

dA = differential area of heat exchanger

∆T = Th - Tc

Fouling factor: It is the factor which takes in to account the thermal resistance offered
by any scaling or deposit that is formed on the surface of the pipe either on hot side or
cold side.

Scaling or
deposits

Its unit is m2 - K/watts

With fouling, U may be obtained from

1 1 1
Udirt = h1 + h2 + F1 + F2
Fouling on
cold side
Fouling on
hot side
 1 1
Udirt Uclean + F1 + F2
=

For Counter flow

Inlet Exit

Hot in (Thi) dq1 dq2 Hot fluid out (The)

Hot fluid

Cold in (Tce) Cold fluid out (Tci)

Cold fluid

Wall of
Separation

x
Thi
Hot fluid Limiting case:

Tce can be greater than

∆T The
Tce The in counter flow
Limiting case
heat exchanger only
(when infinite heat
exchanger area is
Cold fluid Tci
provided).

Note: The variation of ∆T with respect to x is less pronounced in counter flow heat
exchanger as compared to that in parallel flow heat exchanger. Hence the heat transfer
in counter flow heat exchanger is having lesser irreversibility associated with it as
compare to that in parallel flow heat exchanger. Therefore, thermodynamically counter
flow heat exchanger is more effective than parallel flow heat exchanger.
Hence for the same heat transfer area provided in both the heat exchangers, counter
flow heat exchanger can have higher heat transfer rates than parallel flow heat
exchanger.

Mean temperature difference

Inlet Exit

dq dA
Hot fluid

Cold fluid

From equation (2)

dq = U ∆T dA

Total heat transfer rate in heat exchanger,

Q= ∫ (3)
Mean temperature difference is the parameter which takes in to account the variation
of ∆T with respect to x and hence averaging it from inlet to exit and defined from the
equation

Q = U A ∆Tm (4)

A = total area of heat transfer in the heat exchanger

Comparing eqation (3) and (4) and treating U as a constant, we get

1
∆Tm =
A ∫
 To derive for Mean temperature difference of a parallel flow heat exchanger

dq dA
Hot fluid
Thi The

Tci Tce
Cold fluid

dx
x

Thi
dTh
Hot fluid

The
∆Ti ∆T ∆Te
Tce

dTc Cold fluid

Tci

x=0

Let B = width of plate perpendicular to plane of figure

mh = mass flow rate of hot fluid

Cph = specific heat capacity of hot fluid

mc = mass flow rate of cold fluid

Cpc= specific heat capacity of cold fluid

Consider a differential area of the heat exchanger of length dx through which the
differential heat transfer rate between hot and cold fluids is dq.

Then dA = Bdx

dq = U∆T B dx

dq = - mh Cph dTh

= + mc Cpc dTc

Let ∆T = f(x)

At x = 0, ∆T = ∆Ti = Thi - Tci

At x = L, ∆T = ∆Te = The – Tce

∆T = Th – Tc

d(∆T) = d(Th) – d(Tc)

- dq dq
= -
mh Cph mc Cpc

1 1
-d(∆T) = dq ( +m C )
mhCph c pc

1 1
-d(∆T) = U∆T B dx ( +m C )
mhCph c pc

- 1 1
∫ =∫ (mC +m C )
h ph c pc

∆Ti 1 1
ln ∆T = UBL
e
(mC +m C )
h ph c pc

Q = mh Cph ( Thi – The)

= mc Cpc ( Tce - Tci)

∆Ti Thi – The Tce - Tci

ln ∆T = U A [ Q + Q ]
e
 UA
= Q [∆Ti - ∆Te ]

UA [∆Ti - ∆Te ]
Q= ∆Ti (5)
ln ∆T
e

On comparing equation (4) and (5)

Q = U A ∆Tm

∆Ti - ∆Te
∆Tm = ∆Ti (6)
ln ∆T
e

Equation (6) gives logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD) for parallel flow
heat exchanger.

Mean temperature difference of a counter flow heat exchanger

dq dA Hot fluid
Thi The

Tce Tci
Cold fluid

x
Thi
∆Ti = Thi - Tce
Hot fluid

∆T The
Tce

∆Te = The - Tci

Cold fluid Tci

Similarly, for counter flow heat exchanger we can derive

∆Ti - ∆Te
∆Tm = ∆Ti (7)
ln ∆T
e

Equation (7) gives logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD) for counter flow
heat exchanger.

Note:

1. Even though the equations of LMTD is same in both parallel flow and counter flow
heat exchangers the definitions of ∆Ti and ∆Te are different for both of them.

2. ∆Te may be more than ∆Ti in counter flow heat exchanger only.

Special Cases of LMTD

1. If one of the fluids undergoing phase change like in steam condensers or evaporators
or boiler.

(a) Steam Condenser

dq Steam Condensing

Tsat Tsat
∆Te
Tce
∆Ti

Cooling
water

Tci

Parallel flow
 dq Steam Condensing

Tsat Tsat
∆Ti
Tce

∆Te
Cooling
water
Tci

Counter flow

(∆Tm) parallel flow = (∆Tm) counter flow

(b) Boiler

dq

Hot flue
Thi
gases
∆Ti
The
∆Te
Tsat
Tsat
Steam Boiling

Parallel flow
 dq
Thi Hot flue
gases
∆Ti
The
∆Te
Tsat
Tsat
Steam Boiling

Counter flow

(∆Tm) parallel flow = (∆Tm) counter flow

Note:

(i) Whenever the change of phase occur the temperature of fluid does not change.

(ii) When one of the fluids is undergoing phase change, it does not matter what kind of
heat exchanger is to be designed because LMTD value is same in both the cases.

2. When both the fluids have equal capacity rates (i.e. mh Cph = mc Cpc) in counter flow
heat exchanger then from energy balance equation

mh Cph (Thi – The) = mc Cpc (Tce – Tci)

Thi – Tce = The – Tci

∆Ti = ∆Te

∆Ti - ∆Te
Then (LMTD)counter flow =
∆Ti
ln ∆T
e
 0
=0

From L hospital’s rule

(∆Tm) counter flow = either ∆Ti or ∆Te

(∆Tm) counter flow = Thi – Tce or The – Tci

Design of Heat Exchangers

In any design of heat exchangers first it is required to find the area of the heat
exchanger then we could find length of heat exchanger, diameter of each tube or the
number of tubes required.

1. To find area of heat exchanger (A) (LMTD Method)

Given data :-

1. Both the mass flow rate of the hot and cold fluids (mh and mc ).

2. Both the specific heat capacity of fluids (Cph and Cpc).

3. Overall heat transfer coefficient (U).

4. Only three temperature among 4 temperature like Thi , Tci , The .

Solution :-

1. Find 4th unknown temperature from energy balance equation

mh Cph (Thi – The) = mc Cpc (Tce – Tci)

2. Draw the temperature profiles of fluids based on what type of heat exchanger is to be
designed.

3. Obtain LMTD

4. Calculate heat transfer rate between hot and cold fluids

Q = mh Cph (Thi – The) = mc Cpc (Tce – Tci)

5. Obtain Area of the heat exchanger

Q
A = U∆T
m

Note:

For the same hot and cold fluids and for the same mass flow rate of both the fluids and
for the same inlet and exit temperature of fluids, LMTD value for counter flow heat
exchanger shall be more than that of parallel flow heat exchanger i.e. for the same heat
transfer rate required the area of counter flow heat exchanger shall be lesser than
parallel flow heat exchanger.

Effectiveness of heat exchanger

Effectiveness of a heat exchanger is defined as the ration between actual heat transfer
rate between hot and cold fluids and the maximum possible heat transfer rate between
them. It is denoted by .

Qact
= Q
max

Where,

Qact = mh Cph (Thi – The) = mc Cpc (Tce – Tci)

If fluid is condensing, then

Qact = msteam ( )
h = hf + x hfg

x is dryness fraction of steam

Qmax = Maximum possible heat transfer rate

= (mCp)small (Thi – Tci )

(mCp)small is the smaller capacity rate between mh Cph and mc Cpc .

Capacity rate ratio

It is defined as the ratio of smaller capacity rate to the bigger capacity rate .It is denoted
by ‘C’.

(m Cp)smaller
C= (m Cp)big

The value of C varies between 0 and 1.

Note: Capacity rate ratio will be zero (C= 0) if (m Cp)big is infinite or if one of the fluids
is changing its phase. Example- Condenser, Evaporator and Boiler.

Number of Transfer Units (NTU)

NTU signifies overall size of the heat exchanger because it is directly proportional to
area of the heat exchanger. It is given by

UA
NTU =
(mCp)small

Effectiveness in terms of NTU

(1) For parallel flow heat exchanger,

parallel flow =

(2) For counter flow heat exchanger,

counter flow =
General Cases:

1. When one of the fluids is undergoing change of phase like in boiler, condenser and
evaporator then C= 0 and

parallel flow = 1-

counter flow = 1-

2. If both the capacity rates are equal i.e. mh Cph = mc Cpc and C = 1

then

parallel flow =

0
counter flow = 0

From L’s hospital’s rule

NTU
counter flow = 1+NTU

NOTE:

The effectiveness – NTU method is mainly useful whenever both the exit temperatures
of hot and cold fluids (The and Tce ) are not known for a given heat exchanger area.

Additional Concept
1. To reduce the length of a heat exchanger passes are required in a heat exchanger.
Also passes are required when the heat transfer area required is very large like in case
of power plant condensers.

[Link] diameter of each tube (D) of the heat exchanger can be determined from the area
of heat exchanger using
Area of Heat Exchanger = DL n P

Where

n = number of tubes

L = length of each tube per pass = length of heat exchanger

P= number of passes in a heat exchanger

References
1. Heat and Mass transfer by Cengel and Ghajar

2. NPTEL videos