1

1. Abstract/summary

Regarding to the experiment objectives that are to determine the differences in
temperature between a parallel flow and a counter flow and to determine the most
efficient of concentric heat exchanger whether the parallel flow or counter-current flow,
this experiment is based on the transfer of heat at a different temperature gradient. We
used concentric heat exchanger. This instrument was combined with thermometers and
flow rate meter, thus we can control and indicate the temperatures of THin, THout, THmid,
TCmid, TCin, and TCout and also the water flow rate (hot and cold). The experiment
divided into 2 section A and B. A, constant flow rate, temperature varies and B,
constant temperature, varies flow rate. In experiment A, parallel flow is more efficient
than counter flow. For parallel flow, the average efficiency is 29.31% while the overall
heat transfer coefficient, U is 1.096 W/m
2
K at 60 C and 1.12 W/m
2
K at 70 C.
Meanwhile for counter flow the average efficiency we get is 26.67% while the overall
heat transfer coefficient, U is none at 60 C and 0.94W/m
2
K at 70 C. In experiment B,
counter flow is more efficient than parallel flow. For parallel flow, the average
efficiency we get is 34.62% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is 1.10
W/m
2
K at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.53 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min. Meanwhile for counter
flow the average efficiency we get is 35.39% while the overall heat transfer coefficient,
U is 1.44 W/m
2
K at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.4 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min. The experiment
was completely and successfully done.






2

2. Introduction

The process of heat exchanger between two fluids that are at different temperatures and
separated by a solid wall occurs in many engineering application. The device used to
implement this exchange is termed a heat exchanger, and specific applications may be
found in space heating and air conditioning, power production, waste heat recovery, and
chemical processing.
Heat exchanger is typically classified according to flow arrangement and type of
construction. The simplest heat exchanger is one for which the hot and cold fluids move in
the same or opposite directions in a concentric tube (or double- pipe) construction. In the
parallel- flow arrangement, the hot and cold fluids enter at the same end, flow in the same
direction, and leave at the same end. In the counter flow arrangement, the fluids enter at
opposite ends, flow in opposite directions, and leave at opposite ends.



The heats were transfer between the two fluids by convection mode which is from
the hot fluid to the wall and also by conduction which is occur within the wall itself and
back to the convection which is from the wall to the cold fluid. This concentric tube heat
exchanger is the simplest one of heat exchanger between the other types of heat exchanger.
This type mainly used for small flow rates of fluid. Another type heat exchanger is shell
and tube heat exchanger. This heat exchanger has some number of shell-and-tube passes
and the simplest form which involves single tube and shell passes. This type usually
installed with baffles where it increase the convection coefficient by inducing the formation
of turbulence flow and a cross-flow velocity component.
3

3. Aims/Objectives

The objectives of this experiment:
Understand the operating principles of concentric tube heat exchanger.
Determine the differences in temperature between a parallel flow and a counter
flow.
Determine the most efficiency of concentric heat exchanger whether the parallel
flow or counter-current flow.















4

4. Theory

Heat exchangers with only one phase (liquid or gas) on each side can be called one-
phase or single-phase heat exchangers. Two-phase heat exchangers can be used to heat a
liquid to boil it into a gas (vapor), sometimes called boilers, or cool a vapor to condense it
into a liquid (called condensers), with the phase change usually occurring on the shell side.
One of the most common, conductive-convective, heat exchanger types is the concentric
tube heat exchanger. These exchangers are built of coaxial tubes placed the ones inside the
others. When both the fluids enter from the same side and flow through the same direction
we have the parallel flow (concurrent flow), otherwise, if the fluids enter from opposite
sides and flow through the contrary direction we have the countercurrent flow. Usually the
countercurrent flow is more efficient from the heat transfer point of view. This type of heat
exchangers can also be built with the internal tube made with longitudinal fins which could
be placed either in its internal surface or in its external one or both. This configuration is
useful mainly if one of the fluids is a gas or a liquid with a very high viscosity and it's very
difficult to have a good thermal convection coefficient.








5

To find the efficiency, ;
Efficiency, =
qmax
q
100%

=
in)] TC, - in (TH, [Cmin
)] out TH, - in H(TH, [mH.cp,
100%
= ______%
*the value for c
p
can be evaluated from Table A_6, Fundamental of Heat and Mass
Transfer, Sixth Edition, John Wiley and Sons

The heat transfer from the hot fluid to the cold fluid is given by the following equation:

q =U A LMTD

Where:
U, is the overall heat transfer coefficient.
A, is the internal exchange surface area between the two fluids
LMTD is a log mean temperature difference, and it's given by:
T
lm
=
1 ,
2 ,
ln
T,1 2 ,

=
in) TC, out (TH,
out) TC, in (TH,
ln
in) TC, out (TH, - out) TC, in (TH,




6


Counter flow

Parallel flow
7

5. Apparatus

1. Concentric Heat Exchanger.
2. Water.























8

6. Procedure

A. Constant flowrate, temperature varies

1. Switch on the main switch.
2. Switch on the temperature and pump switches.
3. Set the valve for counter flow.
4. Set the hot flowrate at 2500 cm/min and cold water flowrate at 2500 cm/min.
5. Set the temperature at 60 C
6. Let the system stable until THin is 60 C and take the temperature at THout, THmid,
TCmid, TCin, TCout.
7. Repeat step 4 til 6 by varying the temperature at 70 C.
8. Repeat step 4 til 7 with co-counter flow.

B. Constant temperature, flowrate varies.

1) Set the valve for co-counter flow.
2) Set the temperature at 69 C.
3) Set the hot water flowrate at 2500 cm/min and cold water flowrate at 3000
cm/min.
4) Let the system stable and take the temperature at THout, THmid, TCmid, TCin, TCout.
5) Repeat step 3 and 4 by varying the hot water flowrate to 3500 cm/min.
6) Repeat step 2 til 5 with counter flow.






9

7. Result

A. Constant flow rate, temperature varies:
Heat
Exchanger
Temperature Hot Flow
Rate
(cm
3
/min)
Cold Flow
Rate
(cm
3
/min)
T
Hin
T
Hout
T
Hmid
T
Cin
T
Cout
T
Cmid

Parallel Flow

i.

60

51

55

29

37

33



2500



2500
ii.

70

58

63.5

29

40

34.8

Counter Flow

i.

60

51

56

29

38

32

ii.

70

58

64

20

41

34











10

Parallel Flow
i.

ii.




60
51
29
37
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.A, 60C
T,h
T,c
70
58
29
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.A, 70C
T,h
T,c
11

Counter Fow
i.

ii.




60
51
38
29
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.A, 60C
T,h
T,c
70
58
41
20
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.A, 70C
T,h
T,c
12

B. Constant temperature varies flow rate:
Heat
Exchanger
Temperature Hot Flow
Rate
(cm
3
/min)
Cold Flow
Rate
(cm
3
/min)
T
Hin
T
Hout
T
Hmid
T
Cin
T
Cout
T
Cmid


Parallel Flow

i.

69

57

62

29

28.5

34

2500



3000




ii.

69

57.5

63.5

29

40

35

3500

Counter Flow

i.

69

56

62

29

39.5

33

2500

ii.

69

58

63

29

41

34

3500














13

Parallel Flow
i.

ii.





69
57
29 28.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.B, 2500cm
3
/min.
T,h
T,c
69
57.5
29
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.B, 3500cm
3
/min.
T,h
T,c
14

Counter Flow
i.

ii.



69
56
39.5
29
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.B, 2500cm
3
/min.
T,h
T,c
69
58
41
29
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

X
exp.B, 3500cm
3
/min.
T,h
T,c
15

8. Calculations
Sample calculation:
Exp A. constant flow rate, temperature varies:
i. parallel flow (60 C)

Q
H
= 2500 cm
3
/min
Q
C
= 2500 cm
3
/min

m
H
= Q
H x
= 0.0417 kg/s m
C
= Q
C x
= 0.0417 kg/s

60 C ~ C
p,H
= 4.187 kJ/kg.s 29 C ~ C
p,C
= 4.179 kJ/kg.s
The value for c
p
can be evaluated from Table A_6, Fundamental of Heat and Mass Transfer,
Sixth Edition, John Wiley and Sons.

C
min
= m
H
x
.
C
p,H
=

0.175 kJ/s
=m
C
x
.
C
p,C
= 0.174 kJ/s * we consider this one is C
min
because
the value is smaller
Efficiency, =
qmax
q
100%

=

in)] TC, - in (TH, [Cmin
)] out TH, - in H(TH, [mH.cp,

= 0.175 kJ/s (60-51) C 100%
0.174 kJ/s (60 29) C

= 29.19 %


16

Sample calculation:
Exp B. constant temperature, flow rate varies:
i. parallel flow (2500cm
3
/min)

Q
H
= 2500 cm
3
/min
Q
C
= 3000 cm
3
/min

m
H
= Q
H x
= 0.0417 kg/s m
C
= Q
C x
= 0.05 kg/s

69 C ~ C
p,H
= 4.19 kJ/kg.s 29 C ~ C
p,C
= 4.179 kJ/kg.s
The value for c
p
can be evaluated from Table A_6, Fundamental of Heat and Mass Transfer,
Sixth Edition, John Wiley and Sons.

C
min
= m
H
x
.
C
p,H
=

0.175 kJ/s * we consider this one is C
min
because
the value is smaller
=m
C
x
.
C
p,C
= 0.209 kJ/s
Efficiency, =
qmax
q
100%

=

in)] TC, - in (TH, [Cmin
)] out TH, - in c(TH, [mc.cp,

= 0.175 kJ/s (69-57) C 100%
0.209 kJ/s (69 29) C

= 35.82 %




17

Sample calculation:
Area (given) = 0.067
2
m
U = q___
A X T
lm


T
lm
= T
1
T
2
/ ln(T
1
/ T
2
)

Exp A. constant flow rate, temperature varies, parallel flow (60 C)

U = ___1.57 kJ.K/s____
0.067m
2
x 21.39 K

= 1.096 W/m
2
K











18

A. Constant flow rate, temperature varies



Exp.
A
T,C q
(kJ.K/s)
q
max
(kJ.K/s)
Efficiency,% Average
efficiency,
%
T
lm
U
(W/m
2
K)
Parallel
flow
60 1.57 5.394 29.19
29.31
21.39 1.096
70 2.1 7.134 29.43 27.90 1.12
Counter
flow
60 1.575 5.394 29.19
26.67
0 -
70 2.1 8.7 24.14 33.29 0.94

B. Constant temperature varies flow rate



Exp.
B
Flow
rate.
q
(kJ.K/s)
q
max
(kJ.K/s)
Efficiency,% Average
efficiency,
%
T
lm
U
(W/m
2
K)
Parallel
flow
2500 2.508 7.0 35.82
34.62
33.93 1.10
3500 2.7945 8.36 33.42 27.22 1.53
Counter
flow
2500 2.717 7.0 38.81
35.39
28.23 1.44
3500 2.673 8.36 31.97 28.49 1.4

19

9. Discussions

Regarding to the experiment objectives that are to determine the differences in temperature
between a parallel flow and a counter flow and to determine the most efficient of concentric heat
exchanger whether the parallel flow or counter-current flow, this experiment is based on the
transfer of heat at a different temperature gradient.
To archive the objectives of the experiment, we used concentric heat exchanger. This
instrument was combined with thermometers and flow rate meter, thus we can control and
indicate the temperatures of THin, THout, THmid, TCmid, TCin, and TCout and also the water flow rate
(hot and cold). The flow of water through this concentric heat exchanger can be whether parallel
or counter flow by adjusting the flow valves.
In experiment A, we fix the flow rate but vary the temperature. The flow rate is to be
2500 cm
3
/min while the temperatures are at 60 C and 70 C for both parallel and counter flow.
For parallel flow, the average efficiency we get is 29.31% while the overall heat transfer
coefficient, U is 1.096 W/m
2
K at 60 C and 1.12 W/m
2
K at 70 C. Meanwhile for counter flow
the average efficiency we get is 26.67% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is none at
60 C and 0.94W/m
2
K at 70 C.
In experiment B, we fix the temperature but vary the flow rate. The flow rate is to be
2500 cm
3
/min and 3500 cm
3
/min for hot flow rate and 3000 cm
3
/min for cold flowrate while the
temperatures are fix at THin, 69 C and TCin, 29 C for both parallel and counter flow. For parallel
flow, the average efficiency we get is 34.62% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is
1.10 W/m
2
K at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.53 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min. Meanwhile for counter flow the
average efficiency we get is 35.39% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is 1.44 W/m
2
K
at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.4 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min.
We notice that in experiment A, the parallel flow is more efficient than counter flow. The
truth should be counter flow is more efficient than the parallel flow. This may because of several
errors occur during the experiment progress. The common error occurs is the eye position while
taking the reading from the thermometer. The eye position of eye should be parallel to the
thermometer meniscus. Besides, we may be forgotten to press enter key after setting the
20

temperature needed, this is self mistake. The flow rates which always easily change during the
experiment may also cause this problem. The reading for the digital thermometer is differing
than the barometric thermometers also cause the error to occur.
There are no problems occur in experiment B, the result shows that the counter flow is
more efficient than parallel flow. The flow rate is easily to control than controlling the
temperature.
The correct and perfect result may be obtained if we can minimize the errors; the counter
flow is more efficient than parallel flow can be proved.


.













21

10. Conclusion

In experiment A, parallel flow is more efficient than counter flow. For parallel flow, the
average efficiency is 29.31% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is 1.096
W/m
2
K at 60 C and 1.12 W/m
2
K at 70 C. Meanwhile for counter flow the average
efficiency we get is 26.67% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is none at 60 C
and 0.94W/m
2
K at 70 C.
In experiment B, counter flow is more efficient than parallel flow. For parallel flow, the
average efficiency we get is 34.62% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is 1.10
W/m
2
K at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.53 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min. Meanwhile for counter flow
the average efficiency we get is 35.39% while the overall heat transfer coefficient, U is
1.44 W/m
2
K at 2500 cm
3
/min and 1.4 W/m
2
K at 3500 cm
3
/min.














22

11. Recommendations

The eye position should be perpendicular to the meniscus and the scale.
Repeat the experiment at least 3 times to get accurate values and to make comparisons.
Monitor the flow rates during experiment to make sure that the flow rate remains
constant.
Monitor the temperature during experiment to make sure it is constant.
Avoid any leakage of the instrument, the instrument should be working properly
Avoid direct contact with water because it is hot.

12. References

Perry, R.H., and D. Green, Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook, 6
th
edition,
McGraw-Hill, 1984.
Bennett, C. O., and J. E. Myers, Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer, 3
rd
edition,
McGraw-Hill, 1983.
Fundamental of Heat and Mass Tramsfer ( 6
th
Edition,) John wiley & sons(Asia) Pte Ltd
Saunders, E. A. (1988). Heat Exchanges: Selection, Design and Construction. New
York: Longman Scientific and Technical.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_and_tube_heat_exchanger




23







13. Appendices