DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

DOUBLE PIPE (COUNTER FLOW)

HEAT EXCHANGER

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

DOUBLE PIPE (COUNTER FLOW) HEAT EXCHANGER

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the log mean temperature difference (LMTD)
To calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger
THEORY:
The process of heat exchange between two fluids that are at different temperatures and
separated by a solid wall occurs in many engineering applications. The device used to
implement this exchange is termed a heat exchanger, and specific applications may be found
in space heating and air-conditioning, power production, waste heat recovery, and chemical
processing.
The simplest type of heat exchanger consists of two concentric pipes of different diameter,
called the double-pipe heat exchanger. One fluid in a pipe heat exchanger flows through the
smaller pipe while the other fluid flows through the annular space between the two pipes.
Two types of flow arrangement are possible in a double-pipe heat exchanger i.e. parallel and
counter flow. In parallel flow, both the hot and cold fluids enter the heat exchanger at the
same end and move in the same direction. In counter flow, on the other hand, the hot and
cold fluids enter the heat exchanger at opposite ends and flow in opposite directions.
The exchange of heat takes places in between hot water which coming from geyser and cold
water. Inlet and outlet temperature is measured from temperature sensor, which directly
shows on temperature indicator.
DESCRIPTION OF EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:
Exchanger: The Apparatus consists of two concentric cylinders through which hot and cold
water flow in opposite direction (counter flow) or in the same direction (parallel flow). Hot
water from a geyser flows through the inner cylindrical tube via a rotameter to record the
flow rate. Cold water is pumped through the outer tube.
Temperature Indicator: The inlet and outlet temperatures for the hot and cold water tubes are
measured with thermocouples and read from a digital temperature indicator (range 0 to
400OC).
Geyser: Capacity of 3 liters, wattage 3 kW, trip at 80OC
Rotameter: The attached rotameter measures the flow rate (60 to 600 LPH)
Pump: 1900 LPH for the given head, 0.25 HP.

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
Before starting the trainer, follow the following start up procedure.
1.

Ensure that supply voltage is 230 V in your laboratory.

2.

ON the main supply to switch the temperature indicator ON

3.

Adjust the flow of cold and hot water supply by valves.

4.

Ensure rotameter shows the constant reading (flow in LPH).

5.

Adjust the flow of water from the heat exchanger such that outlet water from heat
exchanger is equals to or less than that of the inlet water of the heat exchanger.

6.

ON the hot water pump so that water starts flowing through the geyser.

7.

ON the geyser so that it start to heat water.

8.

Now start cold water supply.

9.

Note down the temperature reading, every 5 minutes for all four observation point.

10.

After steady state temperature reaches, take the readings as per observation table.

11.

During first step, copper matrix absorbs the heat from hot water and during next step; it
gives heat to the cold water.

12.

Measure the temperature as per observation table given.

SPECIFICATION/KNOWN DATA
Inner diameter of outer tube (Di)

36 mm

Outer diameter of outer tube (Do)

38 mm

Inner diameter of inner tube (di)

13 mm

Outer diameter of inner tube (do)

15 mm

Length of the tube (L)

1.5 m

Observation Table:
Hot water flow rate in LPH = .
Cold water flow rate in LPH =
Energy meter initial and final reading = ..

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Time interval

Sr No.

(min)

Thi (oC)

Tho (oC)

Tci (oC)

Tco (oC)

1
2
.
Up to steady state (e.g., no change in temperatures for given time interval)

DATA REDUCTION:
Heat transfer rate
Heat transfer rate for hot fluid Qh = mh cph (Thi-Tho) = Vh h cph (Thi-Tho) [in Watt]
Heat transfer rate for cold fluid Qc = mc cpc (Tci-Tco) = Vc c cpc (Tci-Tco) [in Watt]
Where,
Vh , Vc = Hot and cold water flow rate, m3/s

h, C = density of hot and cold water, kg/m3 at mean temperature

cph, cpc = specific heat capacity of hot and cold water at mean temperature
Thi = inlet temperature of hot water, oC
Tho = outlet temperature of hot water, oC
Tci = inlet temperature of cold water, oC
Tco= outlet temperature of cold water, oC
Log mean temperature difference (LMTD)
Tlmtd

Ti To
(T Tc 0 ) (Tho Tci )
hi
ln(Ti / To )
(T Tco )

ln hi

(
T

T
)
ci
ho

Where Ti

temperature difference at the exchanger inlet

To

temperature difference at the exchanger outlet

Determination of experimental overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

Qh U o Ao Tlmtd

where, Uo is the overall heat transfer coefficient based on inner pipe outer diameter, Ao is the
inner pipe heat transfer surface area (diL)
COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Calculation of tube side heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

Reynolds No.:

d i ui
d iVh

d i2
4

Re di

Pr

Prandtl number:

C p , water water
k water

Use the appropriate correlation for calculating hi:

(a) If Re is less than 2000, Seider-Tate equation is used:
Nu di

hd
d

i i 1.86 Re . Pr . i
k water
L

0.33

(b) If Re > 4000, Dittus-Boelter equation is used:

Nu di 0.023 Re 0.8 . Pr 0.33

** The physical properties of water can be obtained at the mean temperature of hot water
using the following formulae
T T2
Tm 1
2
Calculation of shell side heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)
Nusselt No.:
Reynolds No.:

Prandtl number:

Nu o

ho d e
k water

Re o

where de = Di - do

d euo

Pr

d eVc

2
Di d o2
4

4Vc
Di d o

C p , water water
k water

If Re is in range of 2000 to 1000000, following equation is used:

Nu o

ho d e
0.36 Re 0.55 . Pr 0.33
k water

** The physical properties of shell side fluid can be obtained at the mean temperature of cold
water using the following formulae
T T4
Tm 3
2

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Determination of overall heat transfer coefficient (Ui) (W/m2 K)

The overall heat transfer coefficient is calculated using
1
1 Ao ln(d o / d i ) Ao 1
1 d o ln(d o / d i ) d o 1

U o ho
2k wall L
Ai hi ho
2k wall
d i hi

Where hi, ho are the convective heat transfer coefficients inside and outside the tubes.
EXERCISES
1. Determine the log mean temperature difference (LMTD).
2. Determine, compare & analyze the theoretical and experimental overall heat transfer
coefficient.

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use stable AC Single phase supply only.
2. Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches given
on the panel are in OFF position.
3. Regulate and change voltage supply to the heater in a slow manner.
4. Never run the apparatus if supply voltage is less than 180 volts and above than 240 volts.
5. Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.
6. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.
REFERENCES:
1.

Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, 9th edition, McGraw Hill, NY, 2004

2.

Incropera, F. P. and Dewitt, D. P., Heat and Mass transfer, 5th Edition, 2002
*******************

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Appendix
Properties of Water
Specific isobaric heat capacity of saturated liquid (cpf) [J/kg.oC]
Relation

Temperature range

cpf = 4224 4.1861 + 0.1308 2 0.0014 3

(0C <= < 36C)

cpf = 4188.6 0.6012 + 0.009 2

(36C <= < 100C)

cpf = 4267.7 1.9957 + 0.015 2

(100C <= < 150C)

cpf = 4515 5.2486 + 0.0257 2

(150C <= < 200C)

cpf = 5596 15.826 + 0.0516 2

(200C <= < 250C)

Thermal conductivity of saturated liquid (kf) [W/(moC)]

1.8007

273.15
273.15

kf = 0.92247 + 2.8395

273.15

0.07344

273.15

+ 0.52577

[ Temperature T is in K]

Specific volume of saturated liquid (vf) [cm3/kg]

vf = 9.9917 104 + ( 6.5 108 + 3.83333 109 )

[ Temperature is in C]

Dynamic viscosity of saturated liquid ( f) [kg/(m.s)]

f = 0.00002414 10J

247.8

T 140

where J =

[ Temperature T is in K]

Updated on 04/Aug/2015

COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER