SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology
MEE40001 THERMODYNAMICS 2 – LAB PRACTICAL
MODULE 3:
Characterising the GUNT Double-Pipe Tube Heat Exchangers
Introduction
In this experiment, we shall investigate the characteristic parameter U, the “overall heat
transfer coefficient” of a double-pipe heat exchanger, under two flow arrangements:
1. Parallel flow: both hot and cold fluids enters the heat exchanger at the same end and
moves in the same direction.
2. Counter flow: the hot and cold fluids enters the heat exchanger at opposite ends and
flow in opposite directions.
Therefore we shall look into the dependence of U on:
(1) both the hot and cold water flowrates and
(2) the flow arrangements (parallel or counter flow).
When the separating wall between the hot and cold fluids is thin, the overall heat transfer
coefficient can be approximated by
1 1 1
≈ + (1)
U hh hc
Where hh and hc are respectively the hot and cold side convection heat transfer coefficients.
A typical water-to-water heat exchanger has U between 170 and 850 W/[Link].
For parallel or counter flow, the heat transfer rate from the hot to the cold flow can be
calculated from the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, and the log-mean temperature
difference if all the inlet and outlet temperatures are known:
Q! = UAs ΔTlm (2)
where
1. Q! is the heat transfer rate from the hot to the cold side. It can be calculated from the
energy balance on either flow.
Q! = Q! h = ρc pV!h (T1 − T3 ) (3)
OR
Q! = Q! c = ρc pV!c T4 − T6 (4)
Due to some heat loss from the cold pipe to ambient air, it may be more reasonable to
find the heat transfer rate from the hot side.
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2. ΔTin , ΔTout are the temperature difference at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger.
For both the parallel and counter flows (cf Fig 2.2 and Fig 2.3 of the GUNT Lab manual).
ΔTin = T1 − T4 (5)
ΔTout = T3 − T6 (6)
ΔTin − ΔTout
ΔTLM = (7)
ln(ΔTin / ΔTout )
3. The area, As, is the surface area for heat transfer between the hot and cold fluids. In this
case, it is calculated from Ah and Ac respectively by the log mean value.
Ah = 0.0306m2,
Ac = 0.0402 m2,
As= 0.0349 m2.
The outer pipe has an OD (Dc) of 15mm, while the inner pipe has an OD (Dh) of 8mm.
The pipe thickness t is approximately 1mm. These shall help you to investigate the flow
pattern of the cold and hot flow from the Reynolds number.(*see attached extra
information on how to determine Equations 8 and 9).
4V!h ρ
Re h = (8)
π ( Dh − 2t ) µ
4V!c ρ
Re c = (9)
π ( Dc − 2t + Dh ) µ
We can derive the overall heat transfer coefficient U to be
Q!
U= (10)
AS ΔTLM
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Test set up
(Refer to Figures 1 and 2 to set the heat exchangers to a parallel or a counter flow mode)
Figure 1 – A set up for a parallel flow heat exchanger
Figure 2 – A set up for a counter flow heat exchanger
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Data collection sheet.
Parallel flow
Run V!h V!c T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
o o o o o o
(Litre/h) (Litre/h) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C)
1 25 25
2 25 50
3 25 75
4 25 100
5 50 25
6 50 50
7 50 75
8 50 100
9 75 25
10 75 50
11 75 75
12 75 100
Counter flow
Run V!h V!c T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
o o o o o o
(Litre/h) (Litre/h) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C) ( C)
1 25 25
2 25 50
3 25 75
4 25 100
5 50 25
6 50 50
7 50 75
8 50 100
9 75 25
10 75 50
11 75 75
12 75 100
(The flow rates are suggested nominal values, if your value deviates from the nominal, replace it with real
values.)
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Analysis and Discussion
1. Plot the temperature profiles along the pipe starting from the hot water entry to the hot
water exit, for both hot and cold water flows.
2. Compare the log mean temperature difference for both flow configurations, on the
basis of identical hot water flow rates AND identical cold water flow rates. Does
counter flow always yield greater temperature difference?
3. Derive the overall heat transfer coefficient U from each run using
Q!
U=
AS ΔTLM
and plot the U values as a function of both flow rates and the flow configuration.
4. Calculate the Reynolds number and from literature find out the trend of hc with Rec,
and hh with Reh.
5. Does the overall heat transfer coefficient U change with the flow rates? Does it
change with the flow configuration? Why?
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