EFFECTIVENESS – NTU METHOD

Known: inlet fluid temperatures, fluid mass flowrates, type and size of the heat exchanger
Predict outlet temperature of hot and cold stream in a specified HE
Task is to determine
• Heat transfer performance of a specified heat exchanger
• If a heat exchanger available in storage will do the job
To solve this type of problem by LMTD approach would be tedious because of numerous
iterations required.
Kays and London – Effectiveness NTU approach to avoid iterations (1955)
EFFECTIVENESS
𝐐ሶ 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞
𝛜= =
ሶ
𝐐𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞
 EFFECTIVENESS – NTU METHOD
𝐐ሶ 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 Th ,in
𝛜= =
𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞
Tc ,out
𝐐ሶ = 𝐂𝐜 𝐓𝐜,𝐨 − 𝐓𝐜,𝐢 ሶ = 𝐂𝐡 ( 𝐓𝐡,𝐢 − 𝐓𝐡,𝐨 ) Th ,out

Maximum possible heat transfer Tc ,in

∆𝑻𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊

Cold fluid in
Heat transfer will reach its max value when
 Cold fluid is heated to inlet temperature of hot fluid
Hot Hot
 Hot fluid is cooled to inlet temperature of cold fluid fluid in fluid
out

Cold fluid out

2
Actual heat transfer rate 𝐐ሶ = 𝐂𝐡 𝐓𝐜,𝐨 − 𝐓𝐜,𝐢 = 𝐂𝒄 ( 𝐓𝐡,𝐢 − 𝐓𝐡,𝐨 )

𝒎ሶ 𝒉 𝑪𝒑𝒉 = 𝑪𝒉
𝒎ሶ 𝒄 𝑪𝒑𝒄 = 𝑪𝒄
∆𝑻𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊
∴ 𝐐ሶ 𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝐂𝐦𝐢𝐧 (𝐓𝐡,𝐢 − 𝐓𝐜,𝐢 )

Maximum heat transfer takes place when

• the cold fluid is heated to the inlet
temperature of the hot fluid
• the hot fluid is cooled to the inlet temperature
of the cold fluid
These two limiting conditions will not be reached simultaneously unless Cc=Ch
When Cc  Ch, the fluid with the smaller heat capacity would experience maximum
temperature and the heat transfer would come to a halt
Hence, it will be first to experience the maximum temperature, at which point the heat
transfer will come to a halt.
• These two limiting conditions will not be reached simultaneously unless 𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒉 .
• When 𝑪𝒄 ≠ 𝑪𝒉 ; 𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐈𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 heat capacity will experience large temperature
range.
• Hence, it will be first to experience the maximum temperature, at which point the heat
transfer will come to a halt.
∴ 𝐐ሶ 𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝐂𝐦𝐢𝐧 (𝐓𝐡,𝐢 − 𝐓𝐜,𝐢 )

Cold water 10C 𝒌𝑱

8 kg / s 𝑪𝒑 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖
𝑲𝒈 ℃
Hot water
H2O
ሶ 𝟐 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔
𝑪𝒉 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒉 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 ×
70C
2 kg / s
𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒄 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 ×ሶ 𝟖 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟒𝟒
4
 Cold water
ሶ 𝒌𝑾
10C
𝑪𝒉 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒉 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟐 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔
𝒅𝒆𝒈𝑪
8 kg / s
𝒌𝑱
Hot water 𝑪𝒑 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖
H2O 𝒌𝒈 ℃ 𝒌𝑾
70C 𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒄 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 ×ሶ 𝟖 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟒𝟒
2 kg / s 𝒅𝒆𝒈𝑪

𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟏 = 𝑪𝒑𝒉 𝒎𝒉 (𝐓𝐡,𝒊 − 𝐓𝐡,𝐨ሶ ) = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟐 𝟕𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐖

Th ,i  70o C

𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟐 = 𝑪𝒑𝒄 𝒎𝒄 (𝐓𝒄,𝒐 − 𝐓𝒄,𝒊 )ሶ = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟖 𝟕𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎. 𝟒 𝐤𝐖

Tc ,o
Th ,o

Considering 𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟏 = 𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐖 – compute 𝐓𝒄,𝒐

Tc ,i  10o C

𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 = 𝑪𝒑𝒄 𝒎𝒄 (𝐓𝒄,𝒐 − 𝐓𝒄,𝒊 )ሶ = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟖 𝐓𝒄,𝒐 − 𝟏𝟎

𝐓𝒄,𝒐 = 𝟐𝟓 𝐝𝐞𝐠 𝐂
 ሶ 𝒌𝑾
Cold water
𝑪𝒉 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒉 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟐 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔
𝒅𝒆𝒈𝑪
𝒌𝑱
Hot water 𝑪𝒑 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖
H2O
𝒌𝒈 ℃ 𝒌𝑾
70C 10C 𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒑 𝒎𝒄 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 ×ሶ 𝟖 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟒𝟒
2 kg / s 8 kg / s 𝒅𝒆𝒈𝑪
𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟏 = 𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐖 𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎. 𝟒 𝐤𝐖

Th ,i  70o C
Considering 𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟏 = 𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐖 – 𝐓𝒄,𝒐 = 𝟐𝟓 𝐝𝐞𝐠 𝐂

Considering 𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙,𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎. 𝟒 𝐤𝐖 – compute 𝐓𝒉,𝒐

Tc ,o
Th ,o
𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎. 𝟒 = 𝑪𝒑𝒉 𝒎𝒉 (𝐓𝒉,𝒊 − 𝐓𝒉,𝒐ሶ ) = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟐 𝟕𝟎 − 𝐓𝒉,𝒐
Tc ,i  10o C
𝐓𝒉,𝒐 = −𝟏𝟕𝟎 𝐝𝐞𝐠 𝐂

Hence, the cold water will go on transferring heat to hot water until cold water temperature
reaches 25C, by this time the hot water would have reached already 10C, then there is no
heat transfer between hot water and cold water
𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 = 𝑪𝒑𝒉 𝒎𝒉 (𝐓𝒉,𝒊 − 𝐓𝒉,𝒐ሶ ) = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖 × 𝟐 𝟕𝟎 − 𝐓𝒉,𝒐 𝐓𝒉,𝒐 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐝𝐞𝐠 𝐂
 𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝐂𝐦𝐢𝐧 (𝐓𝐡,𝐢 − 𝐓𝐜,𝐢 ) = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔 𝟕𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 𝐤𝐖
𝑸ሶ = 𝑪𝒄 (𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 )
𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟒𝟒 (𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝟏𝟎) ∴ 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 = 𝟐𝟓℃

𝑸ሶ = 𝑪𝒉 (𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒉,𝒐 )
𝟓𝟎𝟏. 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 = 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔 (𝟕𝟎 − 𝑻𝒉,𝒐 ) ∴ 𝑻𝒉,𝒐 = 𝟐𝟓℃

𝟕𝟎℃ ↓ 𝒕𝒐 𝟏𝟎℃ … … … … . . → 𝟖. 𝟑𝟔
𝟏𝟎℃ ↑ 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝟐𝟓℃ … … … … → 𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟒

7
 PARALLEL FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER ( 𝝐 − 𝑵𝑻𝑼 𝑴𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒅)
𝑸ሶ = 𝝐𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝝐𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 (𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 )
𝒎ሶ 𝒉 𝑪𝒑𝒉 = 𝑪𝒉
𝑻𝒉,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝟏 𝟏
𝒍𝒏 = −𝑼𝑨𝑺 + 𝒎ሶ 𝒄 𝑪𝒑𝒄 = 𝑪𝒄
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝒎ሶ 𝒉 𝑪𝒑𝒉 𝒎ሶ 𝒄 𝑪𝒑𝒄
𝑸ሶ = 𝑪𝑪 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 = 𝑪𝒉 (𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒉,𝒐 )
𝑻𝒉,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝟏 𝟏
𝒍𝒏 = −𝑼𝑨𝑺 +
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒉 𝑪𝒄
𝑪𝑪
𝑻𝒉,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪 𝑻𝒉,𝒐 = 𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − (𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 )
𝒍𝒏 =− +𝟏 𝑪𝒉
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝑪𝑪
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − (𝑻 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝑪𝒉 𝒄,𝒐
𝒍𝒏 =− 𝟏+
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉

𝑪𝑪
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 + 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 − (𝑻 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝑪𝒉 𝒄,𝒐
𝒍𝒏 =− 𝟏+
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉 8
 𝑪𝑪
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 + 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 − (𝑻 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) − 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝑪𝒉 𝒄,𝒐
𝒍𝒏 =− 𝟏+
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝑪𝑪
𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 + (𝑻 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝑪𝒉 𝒄,𝒐
𝒍𝒏 𝟏 − =− 𝟏+
𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉

𝑪𝑪 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪

𝒍𝒏 𝟏 − 𝟏 + =− 𝟏+
𝑪𝒉 𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝐐ሶ 𝑪𝒄 (𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) 𝑻𝒄,𝒐 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝝐= = ⇒ =𝛜
𝑸ሶ 𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 (𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 ) 𝑻𝒉,𝒊 − 𝑻𝒄,𝒊 𝑪𝒄
𝑪𝑪 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝒍𝒏 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝛜 =− 𝟏+
𝑪𝒉 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝑪𝑪 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝟏− 𝟏+ 𝝐 = 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒉 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒄 9 𝑪𝒉
 𝑪𝑪 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝟏− 𝟏+ 𝝐 = 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒉 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉

𝑪𝑪 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝟏+ 𝝐 = 𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒉 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝝐=
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝑪
𝟏+
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝐂𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝝐𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒍 =
𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝐂𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏+
𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙

10
 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝑪
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝝐=
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪
𝟏+ 𝑪
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉

𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒉 = 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒉
𝝐=
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒉

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝐂𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝝐𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒍 =
𝐂
𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝟏 + 𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙

11
 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+ 𝑪
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝝐=
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪
𝟏+ 𝑪 𝑪𝒉 = 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒄 = 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑪𝒄 𝑪𝒉
𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+ 𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 −
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝝐= =
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 −
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝝐= =
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 + 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝐂𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝟏 − 𝒆𝒙𝒑 − 𝟏+
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝝐𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒍 =
𝐂
𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝟏 + 𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝐂𝒎𝒂𝒙 12
 NUMBER OF TRANSFER UNITS (NTU)

𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑼𝑨𝑺
𝑵𝑻𝑼 = =
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝒎ሶ 𝒄 𝑪𝒑𝒄
𝐦𝐢𝐧

 Non-dimensional thermal size of the Heat transfer

 Heat transfer per unit heat capacity of fluid
 For specified values of 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 and U,
𝑵𝑻𝑼 – measure of heat transfer surface area 𝑨𝑺
Larger 𝑵𝑻𝑼 – Larger the heat exchanger

CAPACITY RATIO
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝑪=
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

𝝐 = 𝐟 𝑵𝑻𝑼, 𝑪

13
 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
Effectiveness relation for heat exchanger: 𝑵𝑻𝑼 = and 𝑪 = Kays and London
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

 .   . 
Heat exchanger type Effectiveness relation C  C min C max   m C P   m CP 
  min   max

1 Double pipe: 1  exp   NTU  1  C  


Parallel –flow 1  C 
1  exp   NTU  1  C  
Counter flow 
1  C exp   NTU  1  C  
2 Shell and tube : 
 1  exp   NTU
  1  C   
2

One shell pass   2 1  C  1  C  2

 
2, 4,…tube passes 

1  exp   NTU
  1  C   
2

3 Cross flow (single pass)  NTU 0.22 

Both fluid unmixed   1  exp   
 exp C NTU 0.78  1 
 
 C 

Cmax mixed, Cmin unmixed 

1
C
 
1  exp 1  C 1  exp   NTU   
Cmin mixed, Cmax unmixed   1 
   1  exp   1  exp  C NTU    
 
  C 
4 All heat exchangers
with C=0   1  exp(  NTU )
Parallel Flow
100

80

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60

Shell fluid

40

Tube fluid

20

0
1 2 3 4 5

Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin

Counter Flow Heat 100
Exchanger

80

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60

Shell fluid

40
Tube fluid

20

0
1 2 3 4 5

Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin

One-shell pass and 100
2,4,6….tube passes

80

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60
Shell-side fluid

40 Tube-side fluid

20

0
1 2 3 4 5
Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin
Two-shell passes and 100
4,8,12….tube passes

80

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60 Shell fluid

40

Tube fluid
20

0
1 2 3 4 5
Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin
 100
Cross- flow with both
fluids unmixed
80

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60 Cold fluid

40
Hot fluid

20

0
1 2 3 4 5
Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin
 Cross- flow with one
fluid mixed and other 100

unmixed 
4

80 2

1.33

Effectiveness ɛ, %
60

40 Mixed fluid

20
Unmixed fluid

0
1 2 3 4 5
Number of transfer units NTU = AsU/Cmin
 1

Counter - flow

Cross- flow with both

fluids unmixed

ɛ 0.5
Parallel- flow

(for c =1 )

1 2 3 4 5
NTU = UAs/Cmin

For a given value of NTU and c = Cmin/Cmax, the counterflow HE has the highest effectiveness,
followed closely by the cross flow HE with both fluids unmixed. Lowest effectiveness is
encountered in parallel flow HE
•capacity ratio varies between 0 to 1.
c = 0  c = Cmin/Cmax  0 Cmax  , - CONDENSER AND BOILER
c = 1  c = Cmin/Cmax  1;  is lowest

  1  e  NTU
All heat exchanger


with c = 0

UAs
NTU 
C min
 𝜺 ranges from 0 to 1. It increases rapidly with NTU for small value (up to NTU = 1.5) but
rather slowly for larger values.
 High 𝜺 is desirable from heat transfer point of view but undesirable from economic point
of view. Hence, NTU larger than 3 is not justified.
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
 For a given value of NTU and 𝑪 = , the counterflow HE has the highest effectiveness,
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙

followed closely by the cross flow HE with both fluids unmixed. Lowest effectiveness is
encountered in parallel flow HE.
 𝜺 is independent of capacity ratio ‘c’ for NTU Values of less than 0.3
 Capacity ratio varies between 0 to 1.
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
C=0 => 𝑪 = = 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 => ∞, −𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑵𝑺𝑬𝑹 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑩𝑶𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑹
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
𝒄 = 𝟏 => => 𝟏; 𝝐 is lowest
𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙 23
 𝑼𝑨𝑺 𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏
Effectiveness relation for heat exchanger: 𝑵𝑻𝑼 = and 𝑪 = Kays and London
𝑪𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒎𝒂𝒙
 .   . 
C  C min C max   m CP   m CP 
Heat exchanger type Effectiveness relation   min   max

1 Double pipe: ln 1    1  C  

NTU  
Parallel –flow 1 C
1   1 
Counter flow NTU 
C  1   C  1 
ln 
2 Shell and tube :
One shell pass 1  2  1 C  1 C2 
NTU   ln  
2, 4,…tube passes 1 C 2  2  1 C  1 C2 
 
3 Cross flow (single pass)
Both fluid unmixed  ln  1  C   
NTU   ln 1  
 C 
Cmax mixed, Cmin unmixed
Cmin mixed, Cmax unmixed
ln C ln  1   C   1
NTU  
C

4 All heat exchangers

with C=0 NTU   ln  1   
 Heating water in a Counter Flow Heat Exchanger
A counter flow double pipe heat exchanger is to heat from 20°C to 80°C at a rate of 1.2 kg/s. The heating is to be
accomplished by geothermal water available at 160°C at a mass flow rate 2 kg/s. The inner tube is thin walled and
has a diameter of 1.5 cm. If the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger is 640 W/m2.°C, determine
the length of the heat exchanger required to achieve the desired heating.

Hot water

160C
2 kg / s
Cold water

20C 80 C
1.2 kg / s
 Solution: Assumptions:
Analysis : In the effectiveness-NTU method, we first determine the heat capacity rates of the
hot and cold fluids and identify the smaller one:
.
C h  m h C ph   2 kg s  4.31 kJ / kg.C   8.62 KW / C
.
C h  m h C ph   1.2 kg s  4.31 kJ / kg.C   5.02 KW / C

c  C min C max  5.02 8.62  0.583

The maximum heat transfer rate

 
.
Q  C min Th ,in  Tc ,in
  5.02 KW C  160  20  C
 702.8 kW
That is, the maximum possible heat transfer rate in this heat exchanger is 702.8 kW. The actual rate of heat
transfer in the heat exchanger is
.
 . 
Q   m C p  Tout  Tin     1.2 ks s  4.18 kJ kg.C  80  20  C  301.0 kW
  water
Thus, the effectiveness of the heat exchanger is
.
Q 301.0kW
 .
  0.428
Qmax 702.8kW

Knowing the effectiveness, the NTU of this counter flow heat exchanger can be determined from the appropriate
relation
1   1  1  0.428  1 
NTU  ln    ln    0.651
C  1   C  1  0.583  1  0.428  0.583  1 

Then the heat transfer surface area becomes

UAs NTUCmin  0.651 5020W C 
NTU   As    5.11 m 2
Cmin U 640W m .C
2

To provide this much heat transfer surface area, the length of the tube
As 5.11m 2
As   DL  L    108 m
 D   0.015 m 

Note: This problem can also be solved by ε – NTU method

 Cooling Hot Oil by Water in Multipass Heat Exchanger
Hot oil is to b cooled by water in a 1-shell-pass and 8 tube passes heat exchanger. The tubes are thin-walled and
are made of copper with an internal diameter of 1.4 cm. The length of each tube pass in the heat exchanger is 5
m, and the overall heat transfer coefficient is 310 W/m2.°C. Water flows through the tube at a rate of 0.2 kg/s,
and the oil through the shell at a rate of 0.3 kg/s. The water an d the oil enter at temperatures of 20°C and 150°C,
respectively. Determine the rate of heat transfer in the heat exchanger and the outlet temperature of the water
and the oil.

150° C Oil 0.3 kg/s

20° C

Water 0.2 kg/s

Solution: Hot oil is to be cooled by water in a heat exchanger. The mass flow rates and the inlet
temperatures are given. The rate of heat transfer and the outlet temperature are to be
determined.

Assumptions:
1) steady operating conditions exist.
2) The heat exchanger is will insulated so that heat loss to the surrounding is negligible and
thus heat transfer from the hot fluid is equal to the heat transfer to the cold fluid.
3) The thickness of the tube is negligible since it is thin walled.
4) Changes in the kinetic and potential energies of the fluid streams are negligible.
5) The overall heat transfer coefficient is constant and uniform.

Analysis: The outlet temperature are not specified, and they cannot be determined from an
energy balance. The use of the LMTD method in this case will involve tedious iterations, and
thus the ɛ-NTU method is indicated. The first step in the ɛ-NTU method is to determine the
heat capacity rates of the hot and cold fluids and identify the smaller one:
 .
C h  m h C ph   0.3 kg s  2.13 kJ / kg.C   0.639 KW / C
.
C h  m h C ph   0.2 kg s  4.18 kJ / kg.C   0.836 KW / C

C min  C h  0.639 kW C

c  C min C max  0.639 0.836  0.764


Q max  m
Cp   
T  Tc ,i  0.639150  20  83.1 kW
min h ,i

As  nDL  8    0.014  5  1.76 m 2

UAs 310  1.76
NTU    0.853
C min 639
c  0.764; NTU  0.853  1  exp   NTU  1  C   
2
 
  2 1  C  1  C 
2
 


1  exp   NTU
  1  C   
2 

  0.47
 Q   Q max  0.47  83.1  39.1kW
Q
  
Q  m c C pc Tc ,out  Tc ,in  Tc ,out  Tc ,in 
m c C pc

39.1
Tc ,out  20   66.8 o C
0.836

Q
  
Q  m hC ph Th ,in  Th ,out  Th ,out  Th ,in 
m hC ph

39.1
Th ,out  150   88.8 o C
0.639
Therefore, the temperature of the cooling water will rise from 20C to 66.8C as it cools the hot
oil from 150C to 88.8C in this heat exchanger.
 DESIGN AND CHOICE OF HEAT EXCHANGER

• HEAT TRANSFER RATE

• PUMPING POWER - PRESSURE DROP
• COST
• SIZE AND WEIGHT
• TYPE
• MATERIALS