SIT Internal

TUTORIAL 4: HEAT EXCHANGER

For all questions, take the gas constant of air R = 0.287 kJ/kg.K, and density of water = 1,000
kg/m3 unless otherwise specified in the question.

1. Steam in the condenser of a steam power plant is to be condensed at a temperature of 50 ℃ (ℎ𝑓𝑔 =

𝑘𝐽 𝐽
2,305 ) with cooling water (𝐶𝑝 = 4,180 ) from a nearby lake, which enters the tubes of the
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔∙℃

condenser at 18 ℃ and leaves at 27 ℃. The surface area of the tubes is 58 𝑚2, and the overall heat
𝑊
transfer coefficient is 2,400 𝑚2∙℃. Determine the mass flow rate of the cooling water needed and the

rate of condensation of the steam in the condenser. Assume counter flow configuration for the heat
exchanger.

[100.8 kg/s, 1.65 kg/s]

𝐽
2. Air (𝐶𝑝 = 1,005 ) is to be preheated by hot exhaust gases in a cross-flow heat exchanger before it
𝑘𝑔∙℃

𝑚3
enters the furnace. Air enters the heat exchanger at 95 𝑘𝑃𝑎 and 20 ℃ at a rate of 0.8 . The
𝑠
𝐽
combustion gases (𝐶𝑝 = 1,100 ) enter at 180 ℃ at a rate of 1.1 𝑘𝑔/𝑠 and leave at 95 ℃. The
𝑘𝑔∙℃
𝑊
product of the overall heat transfer coefficient and the heat transfer surface area is 𝐴𝑈 = 2,153 ℃ .

Assuming both fluids to be unmixed, determine the rate of heat transfer and the outlet temperature of
the air. Calculate the correction factor F and compare it to that obtained from the graphs below.
Assume air as ideal gas with R = 0.287 kJ/kg.K .

[102.85 kW, 133.33 ℃, F = 0.8]

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3. Steam is to be condensed on the shell side of a 1-shell-pass and 8-tube-passes condenser, with 50
𝐵𝑡𝑢
tubes in each pass at 90 ℉ (ℎ𝑓𝑔 = 1,043 𝐵𝑡𝑢/𝑙𝑏𝑚). Cooling water (𝐶𝑝 = 1.0 𝑙𝑏𝑚∙℉
) enters the tubes

at 60 ℉ and leaves at 73 ℉. The tubes are thin-walled and have a diameter of ¾ in. and length of 5 ft
𝐵𝑡𝑢
per pass. If the overall heat transfer coefficient is 600 ℎ∙𝑓𝑡 2 ∙℉
, determine (a) the rate of heat transfer,

(b) the rate of condensation of steam, and (c) the mass flow rate of cold water. (Use the F charts from
Qn 4).
𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑚
[5.396 × 106 , 5,171 , 414,835 ]
ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟 ℎ𝑟

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4. A cross-flow heat exchanger consists of 40 thin-walled tubes of 1-cm diameter located in a

duct of 1 m x 1 m cross-section. There are no fins attached to the tubes. Cold water (𝐶𝑝 =
𝐽 𝑚
4,180 𝑘𝑔∙℃
) enters the tubes at 18 ℃ with an average velocity of 3 𝑠 , while hot air (𝐶𝑝 =
𝐽
1,010 ) enters the channel at 130 ℃ and 105 kPa at an average velocity of 12 m/s. If the
𝑘𝑔∙℃
𝑊
overall heat transfer coefficient is 130 𝑚 2∙℃
, determine the outlet temperatures of both fluids
and the rate of heat transfer. Assume air as ideal gas with R = 0.287 kJ/kg.K .

[18.09 kW, 18.46 ℃, 128.35 ℃]

TABLE 1 COMMON CONVERSIONS FOR QUANTITIES

Length 1m 3.281 ft 39.37 in. 6.214 x 10-4 mile

Mass 1kg 2.205 lbm 6.852 x 10-2 slug
Temperature 𝑇𝑐 °C 𝑇𝐹 = 1.8𝑇𝐶 + 32 °𝐹 𝑇𝑘 = 𝑇𝑐 + 273.15 K 𝑇𝑅 = 1.8𝑇𝑐 + 491.67 °𝑅
Volume 1L 1/3.785 US gallon 1/4.546 Imperial gallon 0.001 m3
Force 1N 2.248 x 10 -1 lbf
Pressure 1 bar 0.987 atm 14.504 psi 100 kPa