Heat Exchangers:

The Effectiveness NTU Method

Chapter 11
Sections 11.4 through 11.7
General Considerations

General Considerations
Computational Features/Limitations of the LMTD Method:

The LMTD method may be applied to design problems for

which the fluid flow rates and inlet temperatures, as well as
a desired outlet temperature, are prescribed. For a specified
HX type, the required size (surface area), as well as the other
outlet temperature, are readily determined.
If the LMTD method is used in performance calculations for which
both outlet temperatures must be determined from knowledge of the
inlet temperatures, the solution procedure is iterative.

For both design and performance calculations, the effectiveness-NTU

method may be used without iteration.
Definitions

Definitions
Heat exchanger effectiveness, :

q

qmax

0 1

Maximum possible heat rate:

qmax Cmin Th,i Tc,i

Ch if Ch Cc
Cmin or
Cc if Cc Ch

Will the fluid characterized by Cmin or Cmax experience the largest possible
temperature change in transit through the HX?

Why is Cmin and not Cmax used in the definition of qmax?

Definitions (cont.)

Number of Transfer Units, NTU

NTU UA
Cmin
A dimensionless parameter whose magnitude influences HX performance:
q with NTU
HX Relations

Heat Exchanger Relations

q

m
h ih , i ih , o
or
q Ch Th,i Th, o


q mc ic , o ic ,i


or
q Cc Tc , o Tc ,i

q Cmin Th,i Tc,i

Performance Calculations:
f NTU , Cmin / Cmax

Cr
Relations Table 11.3 or Figs. 11.14 - 11.19
HX Relations (cont.)

Design Calculations:
NTU f , Cmin / Cmax

Relations Table 11.4 or Figs. 11.14 - 11.19

For all heat exchangers,

with Cr

For Cr = 0, a single NTU relation applies to all HX types.

1 exp NTU
or

NTU 1n 1
Compact HX

Compact Heat Exchangers

Analysis based on NTU method

Convection (and friction) coefficients have been determined for selected

HX cores by Kays and London 5. Proprietary data have been obtained by
manufacturers of many other core configurations.

Results for a circular tube-continuous fin HX core:

jh St Pr 2 / 3

St h / Gc p

G Vmax
Problem: Twin-Tube Heat Exchanger

Problem 11.28: Use of twin-tube (brazed) heat exchanger to heat air

by extracting energy from a hot water supply.

KNOWN: Counterflow heat exchanger formed by two brazed tubes with prescribed hot and
cold fluid inlet temperatures and flow rates.

FIND: Outlet temperature of the air.

SCHEMATIC:
Problem: Twin-Tube Heat Exchanger
(cont.)

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Negligible loss/gain from tubes to surroundings, (2) Negligible

changes in kinetic and potential energy, (3) Flow in tubes is fully developed since L/D h = 40
m/0.030m = 1333.

PROPERTIES: Table A-6, Water ( Th = 335 K): ch = cp,h = 4186 J/kgK, = 453 10-6
Ns/m2, k = 0.656 W/mK, Pr = 2.88; Table A-4, Air (300 K): cc = cp,c = 1007 J/kgK, =
184.6 10-7 Ns/m2, k = 0.0263 W/mK, Pr = 0.707; Table A-1, Nickel ( T = (23 + 85)C/2 =
327 K): k = 88 W/mK.

ANALYSIS: Using the NTU - method, from Eq. 11.30a,

1 exp NTU 1 Cr
NTU UA / Cmin Cr Cmin / Cmax . (1,2,3)
1 Cr exp NTU 1 Cr

and the outlet temperature is determined from the expression

Cc Tc,o Tc,i / Cmin Th,i Tc,i . (4)

From Eq. 11.1, the overall heat transfer coefficient is

1 1 1 1
(5)
UA o hA h Kt L o hA c

Since circumferential conduction may be significant in the tube walls, o needs to be evaluated for each of the tubes.
Problem: Twin-Tube Heat Exchanger
(cont.)

The convection coefficients are obtained as follows:

4m h 4 0.04 kg / s
Water-side: ReD 11, 243.
D 0.010m 453 106 N s / m 2

The flow is turbulent, and since fully developed, the Dittus-Boelter correlation may be used,

Nu h h h D / k 0.023Re0.8
D Pr
0.3 0.023 11, 243
0.8
2.880.3 54.99
h h 54.99 0.656 W / m K / 0.01m 3,607 W / m2 K.

4mc 4 0.120 kg / s
Air-side: ReD 275,890.
D 0.030m 184.6 107 N s / m 2
The flow is turbulent and, since fully developed,
Nu c hcD / K 0.023Re0.8
D Pr
0.4 0.023 275,890
0.8
0.707 0.4 450.9
h c 450.9 0.0263 W / m K / 0.030m 395.3 W / m 2 K.

Water-side temperature effectiveness: Ah Dh L 0.010m 40m 1.257 m2

m h h P / kA
1/ 2
o,h f ,h tanh mLh / mLh h h / kt
1/ 2

1/ 2
m 3607 W / m2 K / 88 W / m K 0.002m 143.2 m1
Problem: Twin-Tube Heat Exchanger
(cont.)

With Lh = 0.5 Dh, o,h = tanh(143.2 m-1 0.5 0.010m)/143.2 m-1 0.5 0.010 m =
0.435.

Air-side temperature effectiveness: Ac = DcL = (0.030m)40m = 3.770 m2

1/ 2
o,c f ,c tanh mLc / mLc m 395.3 W / m2 K / 88 W / m K 0.002m 47.39 m1

With Lc = 0.5Dc, o,c = tanh(47.39 m-1 0.5 0.030m)/47.39 m-1 0.5 0.030m =
0.438.
Hence, from Eq. (5) the UA product is
1 1 1 1

UA 2
0.435 3607 W / m K 1.257 m
2 100 W / m K 40m 2
0.438 395.3 W / m K 3.770 m
2

1
UA 5.070 104 2.50 104 1.533 103 W / K 437 W / K.

With
Ch mh ch 0.040 kg / s 4186 J / kg K 167.4 W / K Cmax
Cc mccc 0.120 kg / s 1007 J / kg K 120.8 W / K Cmin
Cr Cmin / Cmax 0.722

UA 437 W / K
NTU 3.62
Cmin 120.8 W / K
Problem: Twin-Tube Heat Exchanger
(cont.)

and from Eq. (1) the effectiveness is

1 exp 3.62 1 0.722

0.862
1 0.722 exp 3.62 1 0.722

Hence, from Eq. (4), with Cmin = Cc,

0.862

Cc Tc,o 23C Tc,o 76.4C <
Cc 85 23 C
COMMENTS: (1) Using the overall energy balance, the water outlet temperature is

Th,o Th,i Cc / Ch Tc,o Tc,i 85C 0.722 76.4 23 C 46.4C.

(2) To initially evaluate the properties, we assumed that Th 335 K and Tc 300 K. From
the calculated values of Th,o and Tc,o, more appropriate estimates of Th and Tc are 338 K and
322 K, respectively. We conclude that proper thermophysical properties were used for water
but that the estimates could be improved for air.
Problem: Heat Transfer
Enhancement

Problem 11.65: Use of fluted spheres and solid spheres to enhance the performance
of a concentric tube, water/glycol heat exchanger.

KNOWN: Flow rates and inlet temperatures of water and glycol in counterflow heat
exchanger. Desired glycol outlet temperature. Heat exchanger diameter and overall heat
transfer coefficient without and with spherical inserts.

FIND: (a) Required length without spheres, (b) Required length with spheres, (c)
Explanation for reduction in fouling and pump power associated with using spheres.

SCHEMATIC:
Th,i = 100oC

Th,o = 40oC
.
mh = 0.5 kg/s
L
Tc,i = 15oC
.
mc = 0.5 kg/s Di = 0.075 m
Problem: Heat Transfer Enhancement
(cont.)

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Negligible kinetic energy, potential energy and flow work changes,
(2) Negligible heat loss to surroundings, (3) Constant properties, (4) Negligible tube wall
thickness.

PROPERTIES: Table A-5, Ethylene glycol Th 70C : cp,h = 2606 J/kgK; Table A-6,
Water Tc 35C : cp,c = 4178 J/kgK.

ANALYSIS: (a) With Ch = Cmin = 1303 W/K and Cc = Cmax = 2089 W/K, Cr = 0.624. With
actual and maximum possible heat rates of

q Ch Th,i Th,o 1303 W / K 100 40 C 78,180 W

qmax Cmin Th,i Tc,i 1303 W / K 100 15 C 110,755 W

the effectiveness is = q/qmax = 0.706. From Eq. 11.30b,

1 1 0.294
NTU ln 2.66 ln 1.71
Cr 1 C r 1 0.559

Hence, with A = DL and NTU = UA/Cmin,

C NTU 1303 W / K 1.71
L min 9.46m
Di U 0.075m 1000 W / m K
2

(b) Since mc, m h, Th,i, Th,o and Tc,i are unchanged, Cr, and NTU are unchanged. Hence,
with U = 2000 W/m2K,
L 4.73m <
Problem: Heat Transfer Enhancement
(cont.)

(c) Because the spheres induce mixing of the flows, the potential for contaminant build-up on
the surfaces, and hence fouling, is reduced. Although the obstruction to flow imposed by the
spheres acts to increase the pressure drop, the reduction in the heat exchanger length reduces
the pressure drop. The second effect may exceed that of the first, thereby reducing pump
power requirements.

COMMENTS: The water outlet temperature is Tc,o = T c,i + q/Cc = 15C + 78,180 W/2089
W/K = 52.4C. The mean temperature Tc 33.7C is close to that used to evaluate the
specific heat of water.