16 Exercise A - Water to Air Heat Transfer

Objective

To demonstrate indirect heating or cooling by transfer of heat from hot water to air.

Method

By measuring the changes in temperature of the hot water and air when the direction of air is

perpendicular to that of the hot water.

Equipment Required

HT30XC Heat Exchanger Service Unit

HT35 Cross Flow Heat Exchanger

Equipment Setup

Before proceeding with the exercise ensure that the equipment has been set up and the
accessory installed as described in this manual, with the hot water vessel filled in and the
tubes pf the HT35 connected to the HT30XC.

Connect the thermocouple plugs on the HT30XC unit as shown in the diagram below.

Prime the hot water circuit. (Refer to the Operation section if you need details on how to
prime the equipment).

Run the HT35 software and select exercise A.

Theory
A heat exchanger is a device that is designed to transfer thermal energy from one fluid to
another. In a cross-flow heat exchanger the location of one of the fluids is perpendicular to the
other which allows the heat transfer.

The finned configuration of the HT35 is characterized by an idealization that treats fluid
motion over tubes as unmixed.

In the HT35, the fluid is said to be unmixed because the fins inhibit motion in a direction (y)
that is transverse to the main-flow direction (x). In this case the temperature varies whit x and
y.

Procedure.

(Refer to the operation section if you need details of the instrumentation and how to operate
it. The equipment should be switched on at the mains before beginning the exercise).

Switch the fan on by clicking the fan on indicator ad confirm an air velocity (Ua) reading of
approximately 1 m/s.

In Input Air, insert manually the value of Relative Humidity (RH%) in percentage e.g. 30.

Set the temperature controller to automatic and enter a Set Point of 60ºC.

Click on the button for the hot water flow rate controller, set the controller to Automatic and
enter a Set Point value of 3litres/min.

Allow the heat exchanger to stabilize, monitoring the temperature using the sensor display the
software screen or control console.

Select the GO icon to record the following, or manually note the values: T1, T2 T3 T4 I and Ua.

Select the Next+ icon to create a new results sheet. Allow the heat exchanger to stabilise then
select the GO icon or manually record the new sensor readings.

If time permits, try different combinations of water flow rate and velocity of air Remember to
create a new results sheet for each set of data.

If using the software, save the logged data by selecting 'Save' or 'Save As' from the Tile’ menu.
Browse to the location you wish to place the saved data and give the results a meaningful
name (e.g. HT35A).
Results

The software records all sensor outputs and also calculates several derived figures, and
presents the recorded data in tabular form. The following columns are relevant to this
exercise, and are suggested as suitable column headings if manually recording the data:

You should also estimate and record the experimental errors for these measurements.

For each set pf readings, the software calculates the following derived results. These should be
calculated manually if not using the software:

Reduction on hot fluid temperature ATwater=T1-T2(ºC)

Increase in cold fluid temperature ATair= T4-T3 (ºC)

Estimate the cumulative influence of the experimental errors on your calculated values for
ATwater and ATair

Compare the changes in temperature at the different flow rates.

Conclusion

You have demonstrated how, a stream of air can be heated by indirect contact with a stream
of water at a higher temperature (the fluid streams being located one perpendicular to the
other). This transfer of heat results In a cooling of tho hot fluid.

Comment on the changes in ATwater and ATair, when the flow of air is increased. The
consequence of these changes will be investigated in a later exercise.

Note: To save time Exercise B can be can led out using the readings obtained from this
exercise.