EXPERIMENT #10 PART A

PARALLEL AND COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGERS

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this experiment is to study the working principles of a concentric tube heat
exchanger operating under parallel and counter flow.
INTRODUCTION:
Up to this point we have learned how to analyze conduction and convection heat transfer in
various systems with different geometries. This information, however, is not very useful unless it
can be applied to practical situations. For this reason we shall devote this experiment to a
prototypical application of heat transfer analysis known as a heat exchanger.
A heat exchanger is a device that efficiently transfers heat from a warmer fluid to a colder fluid.
A device we are probably all familiar with is the automobile radiator. Other applications for heat
exchangers are found in heating and air conditioning systems. Heat exchangers are categorized in
many ways, but the two most common practices are, by the method of construction, and by the
flow arrangements. The analysis for designing an effective heat exchanger is very important;
after all who'd want to be caught on the side of a deserted desert road with an overheated engine!
In this experiment we will study a concentric tube heat exchanger with parallel and counter flow.
For the analysis of this heat exchanger we will need to find important quantities such as the heat
transfer coefficient, power emitted, absorbed, and lost, the log mean temperature difference, and
the overall efficiency to compare the two types of flow.
THEORY:
The overall heat transfer coefficient, although very important in heat exchanger analysis, can also
be difficult to obtain experimentally. This coefficient depends primarily on fluid convection and
wall conduction resistances as well as resistances caused by deposits and chemical reactions
known as fouling which take place on the surface of the heat exchanger during normal operation.
It may also depend on whether or not fins are used; as we have seen in an earlier experiment, fins
will decrease the overall resistance by increasing the total area available for heat transfer. To find
the overall heat transfer coefficient for this experiment we will employ the equation,

(1)

where DTlm is the log mean temperature difference. Because the temperatures at the inlet and exit
for the hot and cold fluids are normally readily available, we must find an expression for DTlm in
terms of these inlet and exit temperatures.
If you follow the derivation in the reference using the log mean temperature difference analysis,
you will find that,

(2)

For the parallel flow exchanger we will have,

(3a)

(3b)

and for the counter flow heat exchanger we will have,

(4a)

(4b)

Solving for the overall heat transfer coefficient in Equation (1) and substituting in for DTm, DTlm
we now obtain,

(5)

where qabs is the heat that is absorbed. If it is assumed that potential and kinetic energies are
negligible and specific heats are constant we can write an energy balance for the system
involving the cold fluid as,

(6)

Similarly, for the system involving the hot liquid we have,

(7)

and for the whole heat exchanger, not assuming that the exchanger is adiabatic, we have,

(8)

Finally, we can find the efficiency of the heat exchanger by,

(9)

APPARATUS:
The apparatus for this experiment is the H900 Concentric Tube Heat Exchanger. This apparatus
has a tank with a heater inside to heat water to a specified temperature. The temperature setting is
adjusted at the thermostat on the front panel. Once the water is heated to the desired temperature
it is transferred by a water pump next to the tank. On the pump there is a knob which varies the
pump pressure. When using a volumetric flow rate above 2 L/min. the switch should be set to the
highest pressure.
The hot water is pumped through a pipe to an insulated tube for which heat will be exchanged.
The actual heat exchange takes place in the insulated tubing for which cold water flows
concentricity around the hot water tube in two different flow arrangements. These two
arrangements, parallel and counter flow, can be changed by opening and closing certain valves
within the network of hot and cold water tubing. Each flow arrangement is shown on a diagram

located on the front panel. It is worthwhile to note that the temperature at cold-in changes to
temperature at cold-out when a counter flow arrangement is used. The same situation applies to
the temperature at cold-out, which changes to temperature cold-in for the counter flow. The other
readings remain the same. The flow rates can be adjusted for both cold and hot water by turning
the valve knobs on the right side of the panel. Thermometers are located at the inlet, exit and
middle of the insulated heat exchanger tubing for both hot and cold water.
PROCEDURE:
To start the heat exchanger turn on the power switch and set the temperature controller to the
desired temperature (60-70 oC). Turn off both of the control valves to allow the holding tank to
heat without losing heat through the exchanger. Turn on the cold water at the faucet.
Bleeding of the system can be accomplished by the valves located near the temperature mid
thermometers. Slowly turn the valve until all the air is out. Do this for both of the valves.
1. First, set the following initial conditions: Controlled heat water temperature = 60 oC ; Vh
= 2000 cc/min ; Vc = 1000 cc/min

2. Configure the apparatus for parallel flow (as seen on the apparatus panel). After
conditions have stabilized, read the hot and cold temperatures at inlet, mid-point, and
outlet.

3. Set the apparatus up for counter flow (as seen on the apparatus panel) and repeat the other
steps from 2.

4. Calculate the power emitted, power absorbed, power lost, log mean temperature
difference, overall heat transfer coefficient, and the efficiency. For heat exchanger
specifications see the panel located on the apparatus.

5. Plot the temperature distributions similar to Figure 1. Compare and comment on the two
types of flow.

Figure 1: Schematic of temperature distributions for concentric heat exchanger

EXPERIMENT #10 PART B

HEAT EXCHANGER FLOW RATE VARIATION

OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of Part B of this experiment is to study the effect of flow rate variations on the
performance characteristics of the heat exchanger in Part A under counter flow conditions.
INTRODUCTION:
In Part A we analyzed the heat exchanger to find the log mean temperature difference, power,
efficiency, and the overall heat transfer coefficient for each type of flow; however, this was for a
constant flow rate. Because in many applications, the flow rates are not constant, we now would
like to analyze the exchanger performance with various flow rates.
THEORY:
Refer to Part A for equations to calculate log mean temperature difference, power emitted,
absorbed, and lost, overall heat transfer coefficient, and the efficiency. In addition, if QhrhCh>
QcrcCc, then (Thot - Tcold) equals DT and will converge at the hot inlet end. See Figure 2a. If
QcrcCc> QhrhCh, then (Thot - Tcold) equals DT and will converge at the cold inlet end. See Figure 2b.
Refer to the class text for standard values of r and Cp.

PROCEDURE
1. Set the following initial conditions: Controlled hot water temperature = 60 oC; Cold water
flow rate Vc = 2000 cc/min

2. Set the apparatus for counter flow (as seen on the apparatus panel). After conditions have
stabilized and while maintaining a constant cold water flow rate, record all water
temperature readings - i.e., hot and cold temperatures at inlet, mid-point and outlet - for at
least the following hot water flow rates: 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 cc/min.

3. For each hot water flow rate, calculate the power emitted, power absorbed, power lost,
efficiency, log mean temperature difference and overall heat transfer coefficient. For heat
exchanger specifications see the panel located on the apparatus.

4. Discuss the effect of flow rate on the calculated data above. Discuss any error from this
experiment that may skew your results.

5. Plot the temperature distributions similar to Figure 2 for one case.

Figure 2: Temperature distributions for variable hot water flow rates