CHE391A Lab Report: 2023-24-II

Experiment No. 5: Finned Tube Heat Exchanger

Date of Experiment:14/02/2024 Date of Report Submission:25/02/2024

Date of Revision:N/A

Group Number:10 Batch:Wednesday

Name of Contributing Students:

1.Aditi Singh Sengar(210055) 2. Diptansu Poddar(210347)

3. Naveen Yadav(210656) 4. Rohan Batra (210868)

Executive Summary: Finned tube heat exchangers, enhance heat transfer by

extending the surface area of the tubes using fins. It is commonly utilized in in-
dustrial applications for heating or cooling fluids through heat transfer processes.
The arrangement involves one fluid flowing over the external surface of the tubes,
while another fluid with a higher heat transfer coefficient flows internally within
the tubes. This report focusses on the study of the performance of a Finned Tube
Heat Exchanger, and calculate the Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), Heat
Transfer Rate, and Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient.

Problem Statement: To study the performance of a Finned Tube Heat Exchanger,

and calculate the Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), Heat Transfer Rate,
and Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient.

Key Findings:

1. The heat transfer in the counter flow configuration is higher than in the parallel
flow configuration.

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 2. Large surface area for heat transfer is provided by the fins for the outer fluid
hence a fluid with low heat transfer coefficient can be made to flow on the
outside.

Short Conclusion: Use of heat exchangers is of critical importance in industries, for

heat integration. The counter flow configuration can provide higher heat transfer as
compared to the parallel and hence should be preferred. Use of finned heat exchangers
can be considered when dealing with fluids with low heat transfer coefficient values.
Recommendations:

1. More extensive and detailed experiments can be performed by changing the

fluid nature.

2. Implementing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations alongside ex-

perimental data can offer detailed insights into flow patterns and temperature
distributions, aiding in the design and optimization of heat exchangers.

1 Aim and Line Diagram

Aim:

1. To calculate LMTD, Heat transfer rate and Overall heat transfer coefficient.

2
 INNOVATION LAB
JEET BINDRA UNIT OPERATIONS &
DEPT. OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, I.I.T. KANPUR
Date:
LAB DATA SHEET

Experiment Name:

ChE Name of students Roll No.

Exp. No. -
Group No. 1. Daptasw foddo 21034A
10
Name & Sign of T.A. 2100S
VTKARSH TAIPATHI 3 Naveen
Canga
Yada 210656

tkasop24 4

Obiective: i)To the

) otficint.
Relevant Equation(s):

Bunal theal -thaner cothient caun be caleulata y

DT, = Ti-Tedn Counteu

Dt, ThatTeut
Line Diagram:

LpH

A-3

-T- 2
int

T-4
 Finned Tube Heat Exchanger
LC=o-c
Sr.No. Mode SET Ti
0
T T/
0 0
Parallel / 6MP. (LPH) (LPH) ( C) (C) (C) (C)
Counter ()

27
454645o 95:2221
I17:2 43 4339-2 22-33
5
6 4s 143484t339 .6 2S- 5
faalae so l-2|5S 43
4339 2252
Paxalll So o2 49. 433 a2.525L
So b69sA41.2 43-o:s250
l6225o49.3 435
Aaito 6-)(962-4 43:3 S.292. 6
J62 Is|42-4 43-8 g6 226
I3 CountesSS 20:3S4 225
94ao-4 S>41263
Asunt s5
Roallee 35
8 l20:3Go53"3 224

14
fo2ho4
2 Detailed Theory and Analysis
2.1 Theory and Formulae:
In various industrial applications, the need to manipulate the temperature of a sur-
rounding fluid through heat transfer processes is common. In heat exchanger setups,
the design incorporates finned tubes to enhance heat transfer removal from a hot
fluid. Fins increases the outer surface area of the tube. Consequently, the outer sur-
face area in contact with the fluid is significantly larger than the inner area. The fluid
with the lower heat transfer coefficient comes into contact with the extended surface
and flows around the tube, while the fluid with the higher heat transfer coefficient
flows through the tubes.
The overall heat transfer coefficient (U ) in a finned tube heat exchanger can be
determined using the following formulas:
For the outer surface:
Q
Uo =
Ao ∆Tavg
For the inner surface:
Q
Ui =
Ai ∆Tavg
The setup comprises a horizontal finned tube heat exchanger. Hot water flows
through the inner tube, while cold water flows through the annular space between
the inner and outer tubes. The equipment offers the flexibility of operating in either
parallel or countercurrent mode by altering the direction of cold water flow. A
valve arrangement facilitates this mode change. A stainless steel (SS) water bath,
equipped with a heater and a temperature sensor for hot water, is incorporated.
The temperature of the water in the bath is regulated by a Digital Temperature
Controller (DTC). Flow rates of hot and cold water and the temperatures of the hot
and cold water streams are monitored using a digital temperature indicator.

2.2 Calculations and Graphs:

Constants Used:
Inner Diameter of Hot Fluid Pipe=10 mm
Number of fins=4
(Length,Width) of fins=(500,6)mm
Reference used for Properties Calculation at Different temperatures: Properties(T)
Please find the detailed calculations at: Calculations

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3 Results and Discussion:
3.1 Results:
1. Average Heat Transfer for the counter flow configuration is higher than that
using the parallel flow configuration.

2. Average Heat Transfer increases with the flow rate.

3. Large surface area for heat transfer is provided by the fins for the outer fluid
hence a fluid with low heat transfer coefficient can be made to flow on the
outside.

4. The Overall heat transfer coefficient shows mild variation with the flow rate
(around 5%)

4 Remarks:
4.1 Precautions:
1. Wait for at least 5 min after each flow or set point change so that the indicator
readings become stable steady state is reached.

2. The attainment of steady state can be checked through the difference of Qh

and Qc .

4.2 Sources of Error:

1. Leakage from the joints in the experimental setup.

2. Delay or Lag in the flow rate indicator on changing the valve position.

3. Measurement error of the digital indicators and controllers.

4. Steady state not being reached for the given temperature and flow configura-
tions.

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