Thermal Unit Operation (ChEg3215)

6.4 Heat exchanger thermal Design and analysis

By: Abatu .H (MSc.)

 Overall heat transfer coefficient (U)

➢ Consider a double pipe heat exchanger in which the hot fluid flows
through the inner pipe and the cold fluid flows through the outer pipe.

➢Heat is first transferred from the hot fluid to the wall by convection,
through the wall by conduction, and from the wall to the cold fluid
again by convection. The thermal resistance network associated with
this heat transfer process involves two convection and one conduction
resistances, as shown in Figure
 Overall heat transfer coefficient (U)
➢

𝑇ℎ −𝑇1
➢ 𝑄ሶ from hot fluid to wall 𝑄ሶ = ℎ𝑖 𝐴𝑖 𝑇ℎ − 𝑇1 , 𝑄ሶ = 1 ……1
ℎ𝑖 𝐴𝑖

(𝑇1−𝑇2) (𝑇1−𝑇2)
ሶ ሶ ሶ
➢ 𝑄 through the wall 𝑄=2𝜋KL 𝐷𝑜 , 𝑄 = 𝐷𝑜 ………….2
ln( 𝐷 ) ln( 𝐷 )
𝑖 𝑖
2𝜋KL

𝑇2−𝑇𝑐
➢ 𝑄ሶ from the wall to cold fluid 𝑄ሶ = ℎ𝑜 𝐴𝑜 𝑇2 − 𝑇𝐶 , 𝑄ሶ = 1 ……….3
ℎ𝑜𝐴
𝑜
 Overall heat transfer coefficient (U)
➢ Addition of the numerator and denominator of equn 1, 2 and 3 become

𝑇ℎ − 𝑇1 + 𝑇1 − 𝑇2 + 𝑇2 − 𝑇𝑐
𝑄ሶ =
𝐷𝑜
ln( )
1 𝐷𝑖 1
+ +
ℎ𝑖 𝐴𝑖 2𝜋KL ℎ𝑜𝐴𝑜

𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝐶 ∆𝑇
ሶ
𝑄= 𝐷 = =UA∆𝑇
ln( 𝐷𝑜 ) 𝑅
1 𝑖 + 1
+
ℎ𝑖 𝐴𝑖 2𝜋 KL ℎ𝑜𝐴
𝑜

1 1
Where U = = 𝐷 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑅 ln( 𝑜 )
1 𝐷𝑖 1
+ +
ℎ𝑖 𝐴𝑖 2𝜋 KL ℎ𝑜𝐴
𝑜
 Fouling of heat exchangers
➢ During heat exchanger operation; dirt materials (scale or corrosion)
deposits on the heat exchanger surface as a result of fluid impurities,
rust formation, or reactions between the fluid and the wall material.
➢ The deposition/accumulation of dirt material (scale or corrosion) on
heat exchanger surface is known as fouling of heat exchangers.
❖Fouling can be caused by the following sources:
1) Scaling or precipitating fouling: Caused by the crystallization of
dissolved substance. Example CaCO3, CaSO4, Ca3(PO4)2, CaSiO3,
Ca(OH)2, Mg(OH)2, MgSiO3, Na2SO4, LiSO4, and Li2CO3.
2) Corrosion fouling is caused by chemical reaction of some fluid
constituents with the heat exchanger tube material.
 Fouling of heat exchangers (Cont’d…)
3) Chemical reaction fouling as a result of chemical reactions in
process stream.

4) Freezing fouling is when a portion of the hot stream is cooled

to near the freezing point for one of its components.

5) Biological fouling: The accumulation of biological micro-

organisms such as algae on the heat exchanger when
untreated water from natural resources such as rivers and
lakes is used as a coolant.

6) Particulate fouling results from the presence of micro scale

sized particles in solution
 Fouling of heat exchangers (Cont’d…)
❖ Effect of fouling on heat exchanger performance

✓ Fouling on the heat exchanger surface increases the resistance to heat

transfer between the hot and cold fluids. so reduces the rate of heat
transfer in heat exchanger.

✓ Fouling will reduce the overall heat transfer coefficient and heat
transfer rate.

✓To compensate for the effect of fouling on the heat exchanger

performance, it is necessary to include fouling factor in the overall heat
transfer coefficient during heat exchanger design.
 Heat exchanger design
➢ Primary objective of heat exchanger design are rating and sizing.

➢ Rating problem : is concerned with the determination of heat transfer

rate and the fluid outlet temperatures for a given fluid flow rates, inlet
temperatures.

➢The sizing problem is concerned with selecting an appropriate heat

exchanger type and determining its size (area) to meet the specified hot
and cold fluid inlet and outlet temperatures, flow rates, etc.

➢There are two methods used in the heat exchanger design.

1) Log mean temperature difference (or LMTD) method and

2) Effectiveness–NTU (Number of Transfer Units) method.

 1) Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method
Ⅰ) Parallel flow heat exchangers

➢ To design or to predict the performance of a heat exchanger, it is

essential to relate the total heat transfer rate to quantities such as the
inlet and outlet fluid temperatures, the overall heat transfer coefficient,
and the total surface area for heat transfer.

Total heat transfer rate …………………1

Where U is the over all heat transfer coefficient

𝐴𝑠 is heat transfer surface area

∆𝑇𝑚 is mean temperature difference

Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ Note that the temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids
varies along the length of heat exchanger, so it is important to develop
appropriate expression for mean temperature difference Tm for use in
equation (1).

Temperature profile for parallel

parallel flow heat exchanger flow heat exchanger
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
❖ Assumptions

✓There is no heat transfer between the exchanger and its surroundings

✓ Mass flow rate of each fluid remains constant

✓ Fluid temperature and velocity at any inlet or outlet remain the same.

✓ The kinetic and potential energy changes are negligible

❖ The over all energy balance (first law of thermodynamics) on hot

fluid in the heat exchanger becomes.
0 0
heat energy – heat energy out + heat energy generated = change in total
into hot fluid from hot fluid in hot fluid energy of hot fluid
– heat energy out = change in total
from hot fluid energy of hot fluid
 Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
– heat energy out = change in total
2

from hot fluid energy of hot fluid

Where 𝑚ሶ ℎ is hot fluid mass flow rate
-𝑄ሶ =𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 ) 𝐶𝑝ℎ is hot fluid specific heat capacity
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 is hot fluid inlet temperature
𝑄=ሶ 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )…….2
𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 is hot fluid outlet temperature
➢ similarly, over all energy balance (first law of thermodynamics) on
cold fluid in the heat exchanger becomes;
ሶ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )…………3
𝑄=
Where 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 is cold fluid mass flow rate
𝐶𝑝𝑐 is cold fluid specific heat capacity
𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 is cold fluid inlet temperature
𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 is cold fluid outlet temperature
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ Again, energy balance on each fluid in small differential area of the
heat exchanger becomes;

d𝑄ሶ
d𝑄ሶ =- 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ d𝑇ℎ , d𝑇ℎ =− …….4
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ

d𝑄ሶ
d𝑄ሶ =𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 d𝑇𝑐 , d𝑇𝑐 = …….5
𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 subtraction of equn 5
from equn 4 becomes
d𝑄ሶ d𝑄ሶ
d𝑇ℎ - d𝑇𝑐 = − -
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

ሶ 1 1
d(𝑇ℎ - 𝑇𝑐 ) = −d𝑄( ሶ + ) …….6
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ The rate of heat transfer in small differential area of heat exchanger
can also be expressed as;

d𝑄ሶ =U(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 )d𝐴𝑠 ………….7 substitution of equn 7 into 6 gives

1 1
d(𝑇ℎ - 𝑇𝑐 ) = −U(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 )d𝐴𝑠 ( + ), and rearrange this to
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

d(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐) 1 1
= −U ( + )d𝐴𝑠 , Let 𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 =∆𝑇,then
𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝑐 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

d∆𝑇 1 1
= −U ( + )d𝐴𝑠 … … … … … .8
∆𝑇 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ Integrate equation 8 from heat exchanger inlet (1) up to its outlet (2)

2 𝑑∆𝑇 1 1 2 from equation 2

‫׬‬1 ∆𝑇 = −U ( + )‫𝑠𝐴𝑑 ׬‬
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 1
𝑄= ሶ 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )….2
1 (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
1 1 = …….10
ln∆𝑇2 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇1 = −U𝐴𝑠 ( + ) ሶ
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑄 ሶ
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
From equation 3
𝑄=ሶ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 ).…3
1 1
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ሶ + )….9 1 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 = ….11
ሶ ሶ 𝑚𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 𝑄
➢ Substitute equation 10 and 11 into 9 becomes

(𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )

ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( + ) rearrange this into
𝑄ሶ 𝑄ሶ
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
(𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )−(𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ),
𝑄ሶ

But (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 ) = ∆𝑇1 and (𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) = ∆𝑇2 , therefore

∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ),
𝑄ሶ

∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ሶ U𝐴𝑠
𝑄=
ln∆𝑇1 −𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2
∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ሶ U𝐴𝑠
𝑄= ∆𝑇
ln(∆𝑇1 )
2

ሶ U𝐴𝑠 ∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 ……heat transfer rate for parallel flow heat exchanger
𝑄=

∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 = ∆𝑇 …. Logarithmic mean temperature difference for parallel heat
ln(∆𝑇1 )
2
exchanger
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
Ⅱ) Counter flow heat exchanger

➢ The heat transfer rate equation and the log mean temperature
difference expression for counter flow heat exchanger is determined in
similar way as for parallel flow heat exchanger.

∆𝐓𝟏
T
∆𝑇1 = 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 ∆𝐓𝟐
∆𝑇2 = 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛

Temperature profile for counter

Counter flow heat exchanger flow heat exchanger
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
❖ Assumptions

✓There is no heat transfer between the exchanger and its surroundings

✓ Mass flow rate of each fluid remains constant

✓ Fluid temperature and velocity at any inlet or outlet remain the same.

✓ The kinetic and potential energy changes are negligible

❖ The over all energy balance (first law of thermodynamics) on hot

fluid in the heat exchanger becomes.
0 0
heat energy – heat energy out + heat energy generated = change in total
into hot fluid from hot fluid in hot fluid energy of hot fluid
– heat energy out = change in total
from hot fluid energy of hot fluid
 Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
– heat energy out = change in total
2

from hot fluid energy of hot fluid

Where 𝑚ሶ ℎ is hot fluid mass flow rate
-𝑄ሶ =𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 ) 𝐶𝑝ℎ is hot fluid specific heat capacity
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 is hot fluid inlet temperature
𝑄=ሶ 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )…….1a
𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 is hot fluid outlet temperature
➢ similarly, over all energy balance (first law of thermodynamics) on
cold fluid in the heat exchanger becomes;
ሶ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )…………2a
𝑄=
Where 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 is cold fluid mass flow rate
𝐶𝑝𝑐 is cold fluid specific heat capacity
𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 is cold fluid inlet temperature
𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 is cold fluid outlet temperature
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ Again, energy balance on each fluid in small differential area of the
heat exchanger becomes;

d𝑄ሶ
d𝑄ሶ =- 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ d𝑇ℎ , d𝑇ℎ =− …….3a
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ

d𝑄ሶ
d𝑄ሶ =−𝑚
ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 d𝑇𝑐 , d𝑇𝑐 =- …….4a
𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 subtraction of equn 4a
from equn 3a becomes
d𝑄ሶ d𝑄ሶ
d𝑇ℎ - d𝑇𝑐 = − -(- )
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

ሶ 1 1
d(𝑇ℎ - 𝑇𝑐 ) = −d𝑄( ሶ − ) …….5a
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ The rate of heat transfer in small differential area of heat exchanger
can also be expressed as;

d𝑄ሶ =U(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 )d𝐴𝑠 ……6a substitution of equn 6a into 5a gives

1 1
d(𝑇ℎ - 𝑇𝑐 ) = −U(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 )d𝐴𝑠 ( − ), and rearrange this to
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

d(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐) 1 1
= −U ( − )d𝐴𝑠 , Let 𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 =∆𝑇,then
𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝑐 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

d∆𝑇 1 1
= −U ( − )d𝐴𝑠 … … … … … .7a
∆𝑇 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
➢ Integrate equation 7a from heat exchanger inlet (1) up to its outlet (2)

2 𝑑∆𝑇 1 1 2 from equation 1a

‫׬‬1 ∆𝑇 = −U ( − )‫𝑠𝐴𝑑 ׬‬
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 1
𝑄= ሶ 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )…1a
1 (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
1 1 = …….8a
ln∆𝑇2 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇1 = −U𝐴𝑠 ( − ) ሶ
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑄 ሶ
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐
From equation 2a
𝑄= ሶ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 ).2a
1 1
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ሶ − ሶ )…10 1 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )
𝑚ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 = ….9a
ሶ ሶ 𝑚𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 𝑄
➢ Substitute equation 8a and 9a into 10 becomes

(𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )

ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( − ) rearrange this into
𝑄ሶ 𝑄ሶ
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
(𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 )−(𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ),
𝑄ሶ

But (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 ) = ∆𝑇1 and (𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 ) = ∆𝑇2 , therefore

∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ln∆𝑇1 − 𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 = U𝐴𝑠 ( ),
𝑄ሶ
∆𝐓𝟏
∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ሶ U𝐴𝑠
𝑄=
ln∆𝑇1 −𝑙𝑛∆𝑇2 ∆𝐓𝟐
∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
ሶ U𝐴𝑠
𝑄= ∆𝑇
ln(∆𝑇1 )
2

ሶ U𝐴𝑠 ∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 ……heat transfer rate for counter flow heat exchanger
𝑄=

∆𝑇1 −∆𝑇2
∆𝑇𝑙𝑚𝐶𝐹 = ∆𝑇 …. Logarithmic mean temperature difference for counter
ln(∆𝑇1 )
2
flow heat exchanger
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
Ⅲ) Cross flow heat exchanger

➢ For cross-flow heat exchangers having mixed and unmixed flow, the
derivation of expression for logarithmic mean temperature difference
becomes quite complex. The simple method is to modify the simple
LMTD by correction factors (F), which is given in chart form.

∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤= (F)(∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 ) counter flow

T2- is shell side outlet temperature
T1 is shell side inlet temperature

t1 is tube side inlet temperature

t2 is tube side outlet temperature

Figure: Cross flow heat exchanger with both fluid unmixed

 Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
Ⅲ) Cross flow heat exchanger

T2- is shell side outlet temperature

T1 is shell side inlet temperature

t1 is tube side inlet temperature

t2 is tube side outlet temperature

Figure: Cross flow heat exchanger with

one fluid mixed and the other unmixed
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
Ⅲ) Multipass shell and tube heat exchanger

➢ The expression of logarithmic mean temperature difference for

multipass shell and tube heat exchanger determined by multiplying the
LMTD of cross flow heat exchanger by correction factors (F),

∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤= (F)(∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 ) counter flow

T2- is shell side outlet temperature

T1 is shell side inlet temperature

t1 is tube side inlet temperature

t2 is tube side outlet temperature

Figure: one shell pass and 2, 4, 6..(any multiple of 2) tube passes

Log mean temperature difference (LMTD) method…..
Ⅲ) Multipass shell and tube heat exchanger

T2- is shell side outlet temperature

T1 is shell side inlet temperature

t1 is tube side inlet temperature

t2 is tube side outlet temperature

Figure: two shell pass and 4, 8, 12..(any multiple of 4) tube passes

2) Effectiveness–NTU (Number of Transfer Units) method.
➢The LMTD method is suitable for determining the size of a heat
exchanger when the mass flow rates, the inlet and outlet temperatures
of the hot and cold fluids as well as over all heat transfer coefficient
are specified.

➢ But, the LMTD method require complex/tedious iteration procedure

to determine unknown heat transfer rate and out let temperature of hot
and cold fluid when fluid mass flow rates, inlet temperatures, the type
and size of the heat exchanger are specified.

➢ The easy method to solve the unknown heat transfer rate and out let
temperature of hot and cold fluid is the effectiveness-NTU method.
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
➢The effectiveness-NTU method is based on a dimensionless parameter
called effectiveness of heat exchanger (∈).

➢Effectiveness (∈) of heat exchanger is defined as the ratio of the

actual heat transfer rate to the maximum possible heat transfer rate.

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑄ሶ

∈ = = ሶ
𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥

➢ The actual heat transfer rate in a heat exchanger is determined from

energy balance on hot or cold fluids and expressed as,

ሶ ℎ 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐶𝑐 𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 ………..1

𝑄=𝐶

Where 𝐶ℎ =𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ and 𝐶𝑐 =𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 is the heat capacity rate of hot and cold
fluid respectively
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
➢The maximum possible heat transfer rate in a heat exchanger occurs at
maximum temperature difference between the inlet temperatures of
the hot and cold fluids.

∆𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛

𝑄ሶ 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 ∆𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 …..….2

where 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 is the heat capacity rate of fluid with the smaller heat
capacity rate
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
❖ The effectiveness–NTU equation for parallel flow heat exchanger

𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 1 1
For parallel flow ln = −U𝐴𝑠 ( + ) …….3
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐

1 1 1 1
but = and = substitute into equation 3
𝑚ሶ ℎ 𝐶𝑝ℎ 𝐶ℎ 𝑚ሶ 𝑐 𝐶𝑝𝑐 𝐶𝑐

𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 1 1 1
ln = −U𝐴𝑠 ( + ) rearranging this by taking as factor
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝐶ℎ 𝐶𝑐 𝐶𝑐

𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −U𝐴𝑠 𝐶𝑐

ln = (1+ ) ……….4
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑐 𝐶ℎ

From equation 1 solving for 𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 gives

𝐶𝑐
𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )………..5
𝐶ℎ 𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
subtracting and adding Tc,in in equation 5 gives

𝐶𝑐
𝑇ℎ,𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 − Tc,in + Tc,in − (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )…….6
𝐶ℎ 𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡

Substitute equation 6 into equation 4 gives

𝐶
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in +Tc,in −𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝐶 𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )
ℎ −U𝐴𝑠 𝐶𝑐
ln = (1+ )
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑐 𝐶ℎ

ln[𝑇𝑇 ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in

ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in
−
𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −Tc,𝑖𝑛
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in
−
𝐶𝑐 𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −Tc,𝑖𝑛
(
𝐶ℎ 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in
) ]= −U𝐶 𝐴 (1+ 𝐶𝐶 )
𝑐
𝑠 𝑐
ℎ

[
ln 1 − (1 +
𝐶𝑐 𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −Tc,𝑖𝑛
)
𝐶ℎ 𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −Tc,in
) ]= −U𝐶 𝐴 (1+ 𝐶𝐶 )……..7
𝑐
𝑠 𝑐
ℎ
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
From definition of effectiveness, we have
𝑄ሶ 𝐶𝑐 (𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )
∈ = ሶ =
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 (𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 )

𝑇𝑐,𝑜𝑢𝑡 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛

=∈ substitute this value into equation 7 gives
𝑇ℎ,𝑖𝑛 −𝑇𝑐,𝑖𝑛 𝑪𝒄

[
ln 1 − (1 +
𝐶𝑐
𝐶ℎ
) ∈
𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑪𝒄
) ]= −U𝐶 𝐴 (1+ 𝐶𝐶 )…….8
𝑐
𝑠 𝑐
ℎ

Take the exponential of both side of equation 8 gives

−U𝐴𝑠 𝐶𝑐
𝐶𝑐 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 [
𝐶𝑐
(1+ 𝐶ℎ
)]
1 − (1 + ) ∈ =𝑒 solving for ∈ gives
𝐶ℎ 𝑪𝒄

− 𝐴U (1+ 𝐶𝑐 )]
[ 𝐶 𝑠
1−𝑒 𝑐 𝐶ℎ
∈𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 flow = 𝐶 𝐶 ……….9
(1+𝐶 𝑐 ) 𝑚𝑖𝑛
ℎ 𝑪𝒄
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
➢ Taking either 𝐶𝑐 or 𝐶ℎ to be 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 (both give the same result), so let’s
take 𝐶𝑐 = 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 and Ch = Cmax then equation 9 is simplified to;

[
− U𝐴𝑠(1+ 𝐶𝑐 )]
1−𝑒 𝐶𝑐 𝐶ℎ
∈𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 flow = 𝐶 𝐶 ………….….9
(1+ 𝑐 ) 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐶ℎ 𝑪𝒄

U𝐴𝑠(1+ 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 )]
−
[𝐶
1−𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑥
∈𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 flow = 𝐶 𝐶
(1+ 𝑚𝑖𝑛 ) 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑥 Cmin

[
− 𝐴𝑠U (1+ 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 )]
1−𝑒 𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑥
∈𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 flow = 𝐶 ……………10
(1+𝐶 𝑚𝑖𝑛 )
𝑚𝑎𝑥
 2) Effectiveness–NTU method (Cont’d....)
U 𝐴𝑠
➢ The parameter in equation 10 is called number of transfer unit (NTU)
𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛

U𝐴𝑠
NTU=
𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛

➢ NTU is proportional to As and NTU is a measure of the heat transfer

surface area As. the larger the NTU, the larger the heat exchanger.

𝐶𝑚𝑖𝑛
let =C where c is a capacity ratio
𝐶𝑚𝑎𝑥

1−𝑒 [−𝑁𝑇𝑈 (1+c)]

therefore ∈𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 flow =
(1+C)
The effectiveness-NTU equation of some heat exchanger
The NTU equation of some heat exchanger
The NTU equation of some heat exchanger
The NTU equation of some heat exchanger