TEST ON A HEAT EXCHANGER

Aim:
To determine the rate of heat transfer and the effectiveness of a concentric tube heat exchanger.
Apparatus Required:
 Heat exchanger with heating arrangement
 Water supply 10 lit/min (approx.)
 Temperature sensors with display
 Rotameters for flow measurement
Specifications:
 Inner tube : material SS, ID 9.5 mm, OD 12.7 mm
 Outer tube : material GI, ID 28 mm, OD 33.8 mm
 Length of the heat exchanger : 1.61 m
 Temperature controller : digital, range 0-200° C with multi channel switch
 Temperature sensors : RTD – PT – 100 type (5 nos.)
 Water bath : material SS, insulated with ceramic wool and powder
coated MS outer shell fitted with heating elements
 Pump : Magnetic drive pump
Experimental setup:
The equipment consists of a double pipe (concentric tube) heat exchanger with suitable valve
arrangements. Hot fluid (water) which is drawn from an insulated bath using a magnetic drive
pump always flows through the inside of pipe while the cold fluid (water) flows in the annulus.
The hot fluid flows always in one direction and the flow rate of which is controlled by means of
a valve. The cold fluid direction can be changed to get both parallel and counter flows. Hot fluid
temperature can be varied by adjusting the flow rate. The whole assembly is mounted on a rigid
stand. The heat exchanger is insulated so as to minimize the heat losses to the surrounding. Still,
the heat lost by the hot fluid (Qh) and heat gained by the cold fluid (Qc) may not be equal since
perfect insulation is not possible.
RTD type sensors measure the fluid temperatures. For flow measurement, rotameters are
provided at inlet of cold fluid and outlet of hot fluid line. The readings are continuously
monitored and recorded once steady state is reached.
Precautions:
- Use stabilized A.C single phase supply only.
- Don’t switch ON the heater before filling the water into the bath.
- Never switch on mains before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches are in OFF position.
- Operate the selector switch of temperature indicator gently.
- The temperature of streams ( hot & cold ) should not exceed 95ºC
- Since Qh ≠ Qc, a mean value may be used in calculations.
- For the same flow rates, the value of U (overall heat transfer coefficient) will almost be same
since, it mainly depends on flow velocity.
- Readings may be taken only after steady state has been reached.
Procedure:
- Fill the bath with pure water and switch on the heaters.
- Adjust the temperature of hot water using DTC
- Adjust the valve. Allow the hot water to recycle in bath through by-pass by switching on the
magnetic pump.
- Start the flow through the annulus and run the exchanger either as parallel flow or counter
flow unit. For parallel flow, open valves V1 & V3 and close valves V2 & V4. For counter flow,
open valves V2 & V4 and close valves V1 & V3.
- Adjust the flow rates on cold and hot water sides between 1.5 to 4 l/min.
- Wait till the system reaches steady state and record the temperatures on hot and cold water
sides and also the flow rates.
- Repeat the experiment with a counter flow under identical flow conditions.
Observation:

Hot water side Cold water side

Type Flow rate Inlet Temp Outlet Temp Flow rate Inlet Temp Outlet Temp
of flow mh kg/s mc kg/s
Thi ºC Tho ºC Tci ºC Tco ºC

parallel

counter

Calculations:
1. Heat transferred from hot fluid, Qh = mh Cph (Th,in-Th,out) kW
where, mh : mass flow rate of hot fluid, kg/s
Cph : specific heat of hot fluid at a mean temperature, kJ/kg.K

2. Heat transferred from cold fluid, Qc = mc Cpc (Tc out-Tc in) kW

where, mc : mass flow rate of cold fluid, kg/s
Cpc : specific heat of cold fluid at a mean temperature, kJ/kg.K

3. Avg. heat transferred Qavg = (Qh +Qc)/2 kW

4. Maximum possible rate of heat transfer, Qmax = Cmin (Th,in-Tc,in)

where, Cmin is the minimum of mh Cph or mc Cpc
5. Log mean temperature difference, ºC

where, ΔT1 = temperature difference at one end of the heat exchanger

ΔT2 = temperature difference at the other end of the heat exchanger

6. Overall heat transfer coefficient U:

Based on outside surface area, W/m2.K

Based on inside surface area, W/m2.K

where, Ai and Ao are inside and outside surface areas of inner pipe, respectively.

7. Effectiveness, %

Result:

A test on the heat exchanger was performed and the following were determined:
i). effectiveness and overall heat transfer coefficient for parallel flow =
ii). effectiveness and overall heat transfer coefficient for counter flow =
Inference: