Chapter 4

Heat Exchangers
Types & Applications,
LMTD Derivation & problems

1
LMTD Formulae
1) Rate of heat transfer, Q = U A (∆T)lm

where
U – Overall heat transfer co-efficient, W/m2K
A – Area, m2
(∆T)lm – Logarithmic mean temperature difference.

For a parallel flow:

[(T1 − t1 ) − (T2 − t 2 )]
(∆T )lm =
⎡ (T − t ) ⎤
ln ⎢ 1 1 ⎥
⎣ (T2 − t 2 ) ⎦
For a Counter flow:
where
[(T − t ) − (T2 − t1 )] T1 – Entry temperature of hot fluid
(∆T )lm = 1 2
⎡ (T1 − t 2 ) ⎤ T2 – Exit temperature of hot fluid
ln ⎢ ⎥
− t1 – Entry temperature of cold fluid
⎣ 2 1 ⎦
(T t )
t2 – Exit temperature of cold fluid
2
LMTD Formulae
2) Heat lost by hot fluid = Heat gained by cold fluid

Qh = Qc

Q = mhCph(T1 – T2) = mcCpc(t2 – t1)

Where
mh – Mass flow rate of hot fluid
mc – Mass flow rate of cold fluid
Cph – Specific heat of hot fluid
Cpc – Specific heat of cold fluid

3) Surface area of cylindrical tube 4) In case of evaporators / Condensers

A = π Di L Q = m x hfg

Where Where
Di – Inner diameter hfg – Latent heat ((J/kg
g K))

3
 LMTD Problems
1. In a double pipe heat exchanger, hot fluid with a specific heat of 2300 J/kg
enters at 380 oC and leaves at 300 oC. Cold fluid enters at 25 oC and
leaves at 210 oC. Calculate the heat exchanger area required for
(i) Counter flow
(ii) Parallel flow.
Take overall heat transfer coefficient as 750 W/m2 K and mass flow rate of
hot fluid is 1 kg/s.
kg/s
Given:
Hot fluid Cold fluid
(T1, T2) (t1,tt2)
Mass flow rate of hot fluid), mh = 1 kg/sec

Entry temperature of cold fluid, t1 = 25o C

Exit temperature of cold fluid, t2 = 210o C

Specific heat of oil (Hot fluid), Cph = 2300 J/kg K

Entry temperature of hot fluid, T1 = 380o C
Exit temperature of hot fluid, T2 = 300o C
Overall heat transfer co-efficient, U = 750 W/m2K 4
LMTD Problems
To find: Heat exchanger area (A) for (i) Counter flow (ii) Parallel flow

Solution:
We kno
know that,
that
Heat transfer, Q = mcCpc(t2 – t1) = mh Cph(T1 – T2)
=> Q = mhCph(T1 – T2)
[[since Specific
p heat & flow rate of hot fluid is known]]
Q = 184 x 103 W
We know that,
Heat transfer, Q = UA ((∆T)) lm Æ ((1))
[From HMT book, Pg no: 152]
where (∆T) lm - Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD)

(i) For counter flow

(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t2) – (T2 – t1)] / ln ((T1 – t2) / (T2 – t1))

= 218.3o C
Substitute (∆T) lm, Q and U values in Equation (1),
(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm 5
A = Q/U (∆T)lm = 1.12 m2
LMTD Problems
(ii) For parallel flow

(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t1) – (T2 – t2)] / ln ((T1 – t1) / (T2 – t2))

= 191.3o C

Substitute
S bstit te (∆T) lm, Q and U values
al es in Equation
Eq ation (1),
(1)
(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm
A = Q/U (∆T) lm = 1.27 m2

Area required for Counter flow = 1.12 m2

Area required for Parallel flow = 1.27 m2

Inference:
Counter flow heat exchanger consumes less area as compared to parallel
fl
flow heat
h t exchanger
h
6
 LMTD Problems
2. Water flows at the rate of 65 kg/min through a double pipe, counter flow
heat exchanger. Water is heated from 50 oC to 75 oC by an oil flowing
through the tube. The specific heat of the oil is 1.780 kJ/kg K. The oil
enters at 115 oC and leaves at 70 oC. The overall heat transfer co-efficient
is 340 W/m2K. Calculate the following
1. Heat exchanger area
2 Rate of heat transfer
2.
Given:
Hot fluid – oil, Cold fluid – Water
(T1, T2) (t1,tt2)
Mass flow rate of water (cold fluid), mc = 65 kg/min = 65/60 kg/s =1.08 kg/s
Entry temperature of water, t1 = 50o C
Exit temperature of water, t2 = 75o C

Specific heat of oil (Hot fluid), Cph = 1.780 kJ/kg K = 1.780 x 103 J/kg K
Entry temperature of oil, T1 = 115o C
Exit temperature of oil, T2 = 70o C

Overall heat transfer co-efficient, U = 340 W/m2K 7

LMTD Problems
To find: 1. Heat exchanger area, (A)
2. Heat transfer rate, (Q)
Solution:
We know that,
Heat transfer, Q = mcCpc(t2 – t1) = mh Cph(T1 – T2)
=> Q = mcCppc(t2 – t1)
[since Specific heat of water, Cpc = 4186 J/kg K]
Q = 113 x 103 W
We know that,
H t ttransfer,
Heat f Q = UA (∆T) lm Æ (1)
[From HMT book, Pg no: 151]
where (∆T) lm - Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD)

For counter flow,

(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t2) – (T2 – t1)] / ln ((T1 – t2) / (T2 – t1))
= 28.8o C
Substitute (∆T) lm, Q and U values in Equation (1),
(1)
(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm
A = Q/U (∆T) lm = 11.54 m2 8
 LMTD Problems
3. A counter flow single pass heat exchanger is used to cool the engine oil
from 150 oC to 55 oC with water, available at 23 oC as the cooling medium.
The specific heat of oil is 2125 J/kg K. The flow rate of cooling water
through the inner tube of 0.4 m diameter is 2.2 kg/s. The flow rate of oil
through the outer tube of 0.75 m diameter is 2.4 kg/s. If the value of the
overall heat transfer co-efficient is 240 W/m2K, how long must the heat
exchanger be to meet its cooling requirement?
Given:
Hot fluid – oil, Cold fluid – Water
((T1, T2) ((t1,t2)

Entry temperature of water, t1 = 23o C

Specific heat of oil (Hot fluid), Cph = 2125 J/kg K
Entry temperature of oil
oil, T1 = 150o C
Exit temperature of oil, T2 = 55o C
Inner diameter, Di = 0.4 m Outer diameter, Do = 0.75 m
Flow rate of water, mc = 2.2 kg/s Flow rate of oil, mh = 2.4 kg/s

Overall heat transfer co-efficient, U = 240 W/m2K

9
LMTD Problems
To find: Length of the heat exchanger, L
Solution:
We know that,
Heat lost by oil (Hot fluid) = Heat gained by water (cold fluid)
Qh = Qc
=> mh Cph(T1 – T2) = mcCpc(t2 – t1)
=> 2.4 x 2125 (150 - 55) = 2.2 x 4186 (t2 - 23)
[since Specific heat of water, Cpc = 4186 J/kg K]
=> t2 = 75.6o C
Exit temperature of water, t2 = 75.6o C

Heat transfer, Q = mcCpc(t2 – t1) = mh Cph(T1 – T2)

=> Q = mcCpc(t2 – t1)
Q = 484.4 x 103 W
We know that,
Heat transfer, Q = UA (∆T) lm Æ (1)
where (∆T) lm - Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD)

For counter flow,

(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t2) – (T2 – t1)] / ln ((T1 – t2) / (T2 – t1)) = 50.2o C 10
LMTD Problems
Substitute (∆T) lm, Q and U values in Equation (1),
(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm
A = Q/ U(∆T) lm = 40.20 m2

We know that,
Area, A = π x Di x L
L = A / (π x Di ) = 31.99 m

11
 LMTD Problems
4. Saturated steam at 126 oC is condensing on the outer tube surface of a
single pass parallel heat exchanger. The heat exchanger heats 1050 kg/h
of water from 20 oC to 95 oC. The overall heat transfer co-efficient is 1800
W/m2K. Calculate the following
1. Area of heat exchanger
2. Rate of condensation of steam.
Take hfgf = 2185 kJ/kg
Given:
Hot fluid – steam, Cold fluid – Water
(T1, T2) (t1,t2)

Saturated steam temperature, T1 =T2=126o C

Mass flow rate of water

water, mc = 1050 kg/h = 1050/3600 kg/s =0
0.29
29 kg/s
Entry temperature of water, t1 = 20o C
Exit temperature of water, t2 = 95o C

O
Overall
ll heat
h t transfer
t f co-efficient,
ffi i t U = 1800 W/
W/m2K
12
Enthalpy of evaporation, hfg = 2185 kJ/kg = 2185 x 103 J/kg
 LMTD Problems
To find: 1. Area of heat exchanger, (A)
2. Rate of condensation of steam, (mh)
Solution:
Heat transfer, Q = mcCpc(t2 – t1)
=> Q = 0.29 x 4186 x (95 – 20) = 91 x 103 W
[since Specific heat of water, Cpc = 4186 J/kg K]
We know that, Heat transfer, Q = mh x hfg
=> mh= Q / hfg = 0.0416 kg/s
Rate of condensation of steam, mh = 0.0416 kg/s
We know that,
Heat transfer, Q = UA (∆T) lmÆ (1)
where (∆T) lm - Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD)
For Parallel flow,
(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t1) – (T2 – t2)] / ln ((T1 – t1) / (T2 – t2))
= 61o C

Substitute (∆T) lm, Q and U values in Equation (1),

(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm Î A = Q/(U (∆T) lm) = 0.828 m2 13
 LMTD Problems
5. An oil cooler of the form of tubular heat exchanger cools oil from a
temperature of 90o C to 35o C by a large pool of stagnant water assumed at
constant temperature of 28o C. The tube length is 32 m and diameter is 28
mm. The specific heat and specific gravity of the oil are 2.45 kJ/kg K and 0.8
respectively. The velocity of the oil is 62 cm/s. Calculate the overall heat
transfer co-efficient if the flow is parallel.
Given:
Hot fluid – oil, Cold fluid – Water
(T1, T2) (t1,t2)

Entry temperature of oil, T1 = 90o C

Exit temperature of oil, T2 = 35o C

Entry and Exit temperature of water

water, t1 =tt2=28
28o C

Tube length, L = 32 m Diameter, D = 28 mm = 0.028 m

Specific heat of oil, Cph = 2.45 kJ/kg K = 2.45 x 103 J/kg K
S
Specific
ifi gravity
it off oil
il = 0.8
08
14
Velocity of oil, V = 62 cm/s = 0.62 m/s
 LMTD Problems
To find: Overall heat transfer co-efficient U

Solution:
Specific gravity of oil = Density of oil / Density of water
0.8 = ρ0 / ρw = ρ0 / 1000
Î ρ0 = 0.8 x ρw = 0.8 x 1000 = 800 kg/m3
Mass flow rate of oil, mh = ρ0 x A x V = ρ0 x ((π/4)D2) x V = 0.305 kg/s
Heat transfer, Q = mh x Cph x (T1 – T2) = 41 x 103 W
We know that,
that
Heat transfer, Q = UA (∆T) lmÆ (1)
where (∆T) lm - Logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD)
For Parallel flow
flow,
(∆T) lm = [(T1 – t1) – (T2 – t2)] / ln ((T1 – t1) / (T2 – t2))
= 25.2o C

Substitute (∆T) lm, Q values in Equation (1),

(1) Î Q = UA (∆T) lm Î U = Q/A (∆T) lm = Q/((πDL) (∆T) lm) = 577.9 W/m2 K
15
Home work
Exhaust gases flowing through a tubular heat exchanger at a rate of 0.4
kg/s are cooled from 450 oC to 150 oC by water initially at 15 oC. The specific
heats of exhausts gases and water may be taken as 1.13 and 4.19 kJ/kg oC
respectively, and the overall heat transfer co-efficient from gases to water is
140 W/m2 oC. Calculate the surface area required for the following cases,
when the cooling water flow is 0.5 kg/s;
(i) parallel flow
(ii) counter flow

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