To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Save to my list
Remove from my list
The Concentric Tube Heat Exchanger experiment aims to demonstrate the working principles of industrial heat exchangers under co-current and counter-current flow conditions. The study also investigates the effect of flow rate variations on heat exchanger performance. The experiment was conducted using a specifically designed apparatus to facilitate measurements and calculations.
Heat exchangers are vital devices in various industries, allowing efficient heat transfer between fluids of different temperatures while preventing their mixing. Different types of heat exchangers exist, including shell and tube, plate and shell, adiabatic wheel, plate fin, and pillow plate, each with specific configurations and applications.
Heat exchangers can operate in two main flow arrangements: parallel (co-current) and counter-flow.
The concentric tube heat exchanger used in this experiment was designed to illustrate the working principles of industrial heat exchangers. The experiment is conducted with a minimal setup requiring only a cold-water supply, a single-phase electrical outlet, and a benchtop. It provides students with the opportunity to measure temperature profiles, understand energy balances, calculate log mean temperature differences, and determine heat transfer coefficients.
The objectives of this experiment are as follows:
Before calculating the overall heat transfer coefficient (U), the power emitted and power absorbed must be determined.
Verified writer
Proficient in: Chemistry
5 (876)
“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”
The efficiency of the heat exchanger is also calculated.
The log mean temperature difference (LMTD) is used in heat transfer calculations and is calculated using the following equation:
LMTD = (ΔT11 - ΔT22) / ln(ΔT11 / ΔT22)
The overall heat transfer coefficient (U) for a double pipe heat exchanger is expressed as:
U = 1 / (1hi + Δxk / doho + diho)
Where:
The film coefficients (hi and ho) are calculated using the following equations:
hi = G' / (ρ * Cp)
ho = G' / (ρ * Cp)
Where:
The experimental procedure involved the following steps:
The following tables and graphs present the results for co-current flow:
Table 1.1: Co-Current Flow Temperatures
| Flow Rate (LPM) | Hot Fluid Inlet (T1) | Hot Fluid Outlet (T3) | Cold Fluid Flow Rate (LPM) | Cold Fluid Inlet (T4) | Cold Fluid Outlet (T6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.86 | 64.2°C | 53.9°C | 0.95 | 27.6°C | 36.8°C |
| 1.52 | 64.5°C | 57.2°C | 0.95 | 27.6°C | 39.3°C |
| 2.0 | 64.3°C | 58.3°C | 0.95 | 27.6°C | 40.0°C |
| 2.4 | 65.9°C | 60.4°C | 0.95 | 27.6°C | 41.1°C |
| 0.96 | 64.4°C | 55.2°C | 0.85 | 27.4°C | 38.3°C |
| 0.96 | 63.7°C | 53.0°C | 1.52 | 27.2°C | 34.6°C |
| 0.96 | 63.4°C | 52.2°C | 2.01 | 27.3°C | 33.2°C |
| 0.96 | 63.3°C | 51.5°C | 2.4 | 27.5°C | 32.7°C |
Table 1.2: Co-Current Flow Power and Efficiency
| Flow Rate (LPM) | Power Emitted (W) | Efficiency (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.86 | 610.97 | 99.10% |
| 1.52 | 765.67 | 100.40% |
| 2.0 | 828.68 | 98.19% |
| 2.4 | 908.88 | 97.40% |
| 0.96 | 604.78 | 100.72% |
| 0.96 | 704.19 | 109.05% |
| 0.96 | 737.39 | 108.15% |
| 0.96 | 777.22 | 112.50% |
The following tables present the results for counter-current flow:
Table 2.1: Counter-Current Flow Temperatures
| Flow Rate (LPM) | Hot Fluid Inlet (T1) | Hot Fluid Outlet (T3) | Cold Fluid Flow Rate (LPM) | Cold Fluid Inlet (T4) | Cold Fluid Outlet (T6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.85 | 62.6°C | 51.0°C | 0.96 | 21.7°C | 32.0°C |
| 1.51 | 64.4°C | 55.8°C | 0.96 | 22.3°C | 35.5°C |
| 2.0 | 64.0°C | 57.2°C | 0.96 | 23.0°C | 37.2°C |
| 2.4 | 65.1°C | 59.0°C | 0.96 | 24.2°C | 38.8°C |
| 0.96 | 64.5°C | 54.2°C | 0.85 | 26.1°C | 37.0°C |
| 0.96 | 63.6°C | 52.6°C | 1.56 | 26.8°C | 34.1°C |
| 0.96 | 64.0°C | 52.0°C | 2.02 | 26.9°C | 33.0°C |
| 0.96 | 63.2°C | 51.3°C | 2.4 | 27.1°C | 32.4°C |
Table 2.2: Counter-Current Flow Power and Efficiency
| Flow Rate (LPM) | Power Emitted (W) | Efficiency (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.85 | 681.66 | 94.08% |
| 1.51 | 789.58 | 109.05% |
| 2.0 | 854.34 | 111.51% |
| 2.4 | 881.94 | 112.50% |
| 0.96 | 642.38 | 100.76% |
| 0.96 | 789.58 | 108.15% |
| 0.96 | 854.34 | 111.51% |
| 0.96 | 881.94 | 112.50% |
In this experiment, we investigated the performance of a Concentric Tube Heat Exchanger under both Co-Current and Counter-Current flow conditions. The primary objective was to analyze the impact of flow rate variations on the heat exchange efficiency and overall heat transfer coefficient.
Table 1.2 presents the data for Co-Current flow, showing the power emitted and the efficiency at different flow rates. We observe that as the flow rate increases, the power emitted also increases, indicating higher heat transfer rates. The efficiency remains consistently high, exceeding 100% for some flow rates. This suggests that the Co-Current flow arrangement is highly efficient in transferring heat between the hot and cold fluids.
Moving on to the Counter-Current flow experiments, Table 2.2 displays the data for power emitted and efficiency under varying flow rates. In this case, we notice that the power emitted increases as the flow rate rises. However, unlike the Co-Current flow, the efficiency remains relatively stable and consistently high without exceeding 100%. Counter-Current flow appears to offer stable and efficient heat exchange even at different flow rates.
Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 visualize the data, emphasizing the relationship between flow rate and both power emitted and efficiency in Counter-Current flow. These graphs illustrate that Counter-Current flow maintains a stable heat transfer efficiency despite changes in flow rate.
Comparing the results of Co-Current and Counter-Current flow experiments, several key observations can be made:
The experimental data demonstrates that the choice between Co-Current and Counter-Current flow configurations depends on specific application requirements. Co-Current flow excels in achieving higher heat transfer rates and efficiency, making it suitable for applications where maximizing heat exchange is crucial.
On the other hand, Counter-Current flow offers stable and reliable heat exchange performance across varying flow rates. This makes it a suitable choice when consistent heat transfer efficiency is needed, even with changing operating conditions.
The results also emphasize the importance of considering the overall heat transfer coefficient (U) when designing or selecting a heat exchanger. U values provide a comprehensive measure of a heat exchanger's effectiveness, considering factors such as fluid properties, flow rates, and geometry.
In practice, engineers and designers must carefully evaluate the specific requirements of their heat exchange application to choose the most appropriate flow arrangement, whether Co-Current or Counter-Current, to achieve the desired level of heat transfer efficiency.
In conclusion, this experiment has provided valuable insights into the performance characteristics of Concentric Tube Heat Exchangers under different flow conditions and flow rates. These findings can serve as a basis for optimizing heat exchanger designs and selecting the most suitable configuration for various industrial applications.
Concentric Tube Heat Exchanger Experiment Report. (2024, Jan 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/concentric-tube-heat-exchanger-experiment-report
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment
