PARALLEL-FLOW PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

Objective:
To determine the heat transfer coefficient (U) for a parallel-flow plate heat
exchanger.
Theory:
The operational principle of plate heat exchanger is based on heat transfer
from hot stream to cold stream, which consequently causes temperature
changes in both streams.
The heat transferred from the hot to cold streams is equal to the heat
received by the cold stream.
Q = mCp (TH1-TH2) = mCp (TC2-TC1)
Q
m
Cp
TH1
TH2
TC1
TC2

U
A
Tlm

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Heat transfer
Fluid mass
Fluid heat capacity
Hot stream inlet temperature
Hot stream outlet temperature
Cold stream inlet temperature
Cold stream outlet temperature
Q = UATlm

= Heat transfer coefficient

= Plate surface area
= Log mean temperature difference, which is described by:
Tlm

(TH 2 TC 2 ) (TH 1 TC1 )

T T
ln H 2 C 2
TH 1 TC1

The standard heat transfer coefficient for this experiment is between 500 700 W/m2.C.

Equipment/Materials:
1.
2.
3.

Parallel-flow plate heat exchanger

10L capacity plastic container
Stop watch

4.
5.

Water pump
Water

Procedure:
1.

Switch on the heater and stirrer to heat up the fluid in the storage

2.
3.

tank.
Turn hot stream pump on to recycle hot water in the tank.
Let the water flow until the water temperature in the tank reaches 60
C. Make sure hot stream temperature (TH2) is equal to the

4.

temperature in the tank (TH1).

When the temperatures are even, make preparation to record the inlet
and outlet temperatures for each hot stream and cold stream

5.
6.

simultaneously.
Open the cold stream valve slowly.
At the same time, start the stop watch and record all the related

7.
8.
9.

temperatures as in procedure (4).

Stop the stop watch when the time is up.
Close the cold stream valve.
Repeat steps 3-8 for three (3) subsequent sets of data reading.
Calculate the average reading for all the data recorded.

Experiment data:

Experimental information for parallel-flow plate heat exchanger

Length of the plate

420
mm

Width of the plate

125
mm

Thickness of the plate

46
mm

Total number of plate

15

pieces

Questions:
1.

Based on the recorded data, plot a graph of temperature vs. time for

2.

hot stream and cold stream.

Draw a temperature profile vs. plate thickness for parallel-flow plate

3.

heat exchanger.
Determine the overall heat transfer coefficient for this heat exchanger.

4.
5.

Discuss why the calculated value differs from the standard value.
Describe the advantages of plate heat exchanger.
Discuss all the results obtained.

References:
1.

Holman, J. P., Heat Transfer, 8th edition, Mc Graw-Hill Inc., U.S.A,

2.

1997.
Mc Cabe, W. L., Smith, J. C. & Harriot, P., Unit Operation of Chemical

3.

Engineering, 4th Edition, Mc Graw-Hill, 1985.

Geankoplis, C. J., Transport Processes & Unit Operations, 3rd Edition,
Prentice-Hall, 1995.