Number od Transfer Units (NTU)

Condenser application

Simple heat exchangers configuration

Mills [12], # 1.6, page 37

1.6.2 Analysis of a condenser

An energy balance of an exchanger is formulated

using the steady flow energy equation for the control
volume shown with dashed line in Fig. 1.23a tC,in
mC
Heat exchanger balance [ 12 ] hC,in
H in =H out
ṁH⋅h H,in + ṁC⋅hC,in =ṁH⋅h H,out + ṁC⋅hC,out
ṁC⋅( hC,out −hC,in ) =ṁ H⋅( hH,in −h H,out ) (1. 51)
assuming a constant specific heat for the coolant and
that the condensate leaves at saturation temperature
ṁC⋅c P ,C⋅( t C,out −t C ,in ) =ṁH⋅h fg (1 .52 )
with hfg the heat of condensation
ṁ ⋅h
t C, out −t C , in= H fg
ṁC⋅c P ,C Microsoft Editor de
ecuaciones 3.0
ṁH⋅hfg
t C, out =t C , in +
ṁC⋅c P , C

Governing equation and boundary condition Energybalnceoadiferntialemnt

condensate
Q=U⋅Per⋅Δx⋅( t sat − t C )
tsat Contrlvoumeinltadoutle nhalpy
tube wall
Hin=ṁC⋅cp,tC|x
H in = ṁC⋅c p,C⋅tC |x H out =ṁC⋅c p,C⋅t C|x+Δx
Hout=ṁC⋅cp,tC|x+Δ
 Hin=ṁC⋅cp,tC|x
H in = ṁC⋅c p,C⋅tC |x H out =ṁC⋅c p,C⋅t C|x+Δx
Hout=ṁC⋅cp,tC|x+Δ
The atrnsfedtohecolantis
Dx

( tC|x+Δ-tC|x) (tC|x+Δ-tC|x) dtC dtC U⋅Per

Q=U⋅AΔt ⋅cp,Ct|x ¿U⋅Per(tsat−C)=ṁC⋅cp, ¿ṁC⋅cp,C =U⋅Per(tsat−C)¿letingΔx→0¿ṁC⋅cp, =U⋅Per(tsat−C)¿or = ⋅(tsat−C) (1.53)¿Eq.(153)isafrtoderifentalqutionad¿requisonebudarycondit ¿Boundarycondit ¿forx=0, tC= ,in¿
Number of Transfer Units

NTU=
U⋅Per⋅L Q=U⋅PerΔx⋅(tsat−C) Δx Δx dx dx ṁC⋅cp,C
ṁC⋅c p,C
Thenrgybalnceis
Hin+Q=Hout
ṁC⋅cp,tC|x+U⋅PerΔx⋅(tsat−C)=ṁC⋅cp,Ct|x+Δ
U⋅PerΔx⋅(tsat−C)=ṁC⋅cp,Ct|x+Δ-{ṁ C
 Rev. Cjc 04.04.2014
Saturated
Condenser schema vapor
(Hot fluid. "H")
Insulation with
Qloss = 0
mH
hH,in

Coolant "C"

mH
hH,out
Fig. 1.23a Condensate

rosoft Editor de
cuaciones 3.0

dθ U⋅Per -U⋅Per
=− dx ṁ C⋅c p,C
x

θ ṁC⋅c p,C t sat−tC =( tsat −t C,in )⋅e (1.55)

∫ dθ
θ
=−
U⋅Per
ṁC⋅c p,C
∫ dx Coolant outlet temperature
For x=L
-U⋅Per⋅L
U⋅Per t sat−tC,out = ( t sat−t C,in )⋅e
ṁC⋅c p,C
lnθ=− x +C (1.56)
ṁC⋅c p,C
Exchanger performance
The exponent in equation (1. 56), a non dimensional
θ=t sat −t C is called Number of Transfer Units with abreviation N
for x =0, t C =t C,in NTU=
U⋅Per⋅L
ṁC⋅c p,C
θ=( t sat −t C,in ) Equation (1 .56) can be expressed as
U⋅Per t sat−tC,out −NTU
ln t −t =− 0+C =e (1.57)
 lnθ=− x +C t sat−tC,out = ( t sat−t C,in )⋅e (1.56)
ṁC⋅c p,C
Exchanger performance
The exponent in equation (1. 56), a non dimensional
θ=t sat −t C is called Number of Transfer Units with abreviation N
for x =0, t C =t C,in NTU=
U⋅Per⋅L
ṁC⋅c p,C
θ=( t sat −t C,in ) Equation (1 .56) can be expressed as
U⋅Per t sat−tC,out −NTU
ln ( t sat −t C,in )=− 0+C t sat−tC,in
=e (1.57)
ṁC⋅c p,C
dtC dtC U⋅Per dθ U⋅Per dθ U⋅Per dθ U⋅Per C=ln ( t sat −t C,in ) Usung a convenient arrangement

=U⋅Per(tsat−C)¿letingΔx→0¿ṁC⋅cp, =U⋅Per(tsat−C)¿or = ⋅(tsat−C) (1.53)¿Eq.(153)isafrtoderifentalqutionad¿requisonebudarycondit ¿Boundarycondit ¿forx=0, tC= ,in¿Tointegra,let¿θ=sat−tC¿dθ=−tC¿dC=−dθ¿ = ⋅θ¿− =− dx¿ =− dx¿
t sat −t C,out
thus 1− =1−e−NTU
t sat −t C,in

dx dx ṁC⋅cp,C dx ṁC⋅cp, θ ṁC⋅cp,C θ ṁC⋅cp,C

U⋅Per
ln ( t sat −t C )=− x+ln ( t sat −t C,in ) or
ṁC⋅c p,C t sat−tC,in −t sat +t C,out
=1−e−NTU
U⋅Per t sat−tC,in
ln ( t sat −t C )−ln ( t sat −t C,in ) =− x t C,out −t C,in
ṁ C⋅c p,C =1−e−NTU (1.58)
t sat−tC,in

( )
t sat −t C U⋅Per With
ln =− x U⋅Per⋅L
t sat −t C,in ṁC⋅c p,C −NTU
e =e
−
ṁC⋅cp,C

-U⋅Per and if L =∞
t sat −t C ṁC⋅c p,C
x −NTU
e ( x=∞)=0
=e
t sat −t C,in Thus the maximum possible efficiency
-U⋅Per
will be ε=1, and will obtained for L=∞
x −NTU
ṁC⋅c p,C For this reason, 1−e can be viewed as the
t sat −t C =( t sat −t C,in ) ¿ e (1. 55 ) effectiveness of the exchanger
ε=1−e−NTU (1. 59)

Equation (1 .59) indicates that the larger the number

Microsoft Editor de Microsoft Editor de of transfer units of the exchabger, the higher its
ecuaciones 3.0 ecuaciones 3.0 effectiveness is.
In the practice, values of the effectiveness of 0 .6 to 0.
are typical .
 Rev. Cjc 04.04.2014

tC,out
mC
hC,out

-U⋅Per
x
ṁC⋅c p,C
)
C,in ⋅e (1.55)

emperature

-U⋅Per⋅L
ṁ C⋅c p,C
−tC,in )⋅e (1.56)

ormance
n equation (1.56), a non dimensional number
er of Transfer Units with abreviation NTU

) can be expressed as
TU
(1 .57)
−tC,in )⋅e (1.56)

ormance
n equation (1.56), a non dimensional number
er of Transfer Units with abreviation NTU

) can be expressed as
TU
(1 .57)

ient arrangement
1−e−NTU

C,out
=1−e−NTU

−e−NTU (1 .58)

mum possible efficiency

d will obtained for L=∞
−NTU
1−e can be viewed as the
the exchanger
1.59)

) indicates that the larger the number

s of the exchabger, the higher its

values of the effectiveness of 0 . 6 to 0.9

[12] Heat ans mass transfer
Anthony F. Mills
Irwin, 1995