LAB REPORT :

Study of the heat transfer in countercurrent

and parallel flow condition

Advanced Program
Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, HUMG
ECH 155B
Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Fullname : Duong Ngoc Tu

ID

: CTTT 102 101 10

Group

: 8

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare heat transfer in countercurrent and parallel flow
condition. The data will allow the student to calculate the logarithmic average temperature
differences and represent the temperature distribution along the exchanger in both configurations.
Introduction
In chemical industries, heat exchangers are commonplace and allow the exchange or
transfer of heat between two fluid streams that are at different temperatures. Usually, the two fluid
streams are separated by a metal wall, which is also serves as the heat exchanger surface. Heat
exchangers are commonly classified according to flow arrangements and type of construction
.Here, the discussion is restricted to the simplest type of heat exchanger - a shell and tube heat
exchanger.
Theory
A heat exchanger is a device that is used to transfer energy in the form of heat from one
fluid to another. They take two input fluids of different temperatures and as the two fluids run
near each other the fluids transfer heat between each other. The heat exchanger looks like a large
pipe that consists of many small tubes inside.
Heat exchangers can be used in two different configurations parallel flow( Figure 1) , or
counter flow ( Figure 2 )

Figure 1 : parallel flow

Figure 2 : counter flow

Each configuration refers to how the fluid moves through their respective flow passages
relative to each other. If each fluid is flowing in the same direction such as in figure 1 it is termed
a parallel flow. On the other hand if the fluids flow in opposite directions as in figure 2 it is
termed counter flow.
The heat transfer process which occurs in any basic heat exchanger can be summarized by
the following equations.
- Heat transferred by hot water:

Qh mh .c ph . Th
- Heat absorbed by the cold water

Qc mc .c pc . Tc
- Heat losses

Ql Qh Qc
- The log-mean temperature difference is given by the following equation where a and b
represent the ends of the heat exchanger. The LMTD is used because the heat must pass through
four resistances the hot tube to the cold water.

Tlm

Ta Tb
T

ln a
Tb

Experimental Methods
- Experimental Apparatus:
The experimental apparatus is Concentric Tube Heat Exchanger EDIBON's TITC that
connected with a computer containing SCADA Control software.
- Experimental Procedure:
1. Check that the valves are opened and that we have countercurrent flow configuration.
2. Check that the heating tank is filled with water above th level switch.
3. Switch on pump and the resistor (equipment supply).
4. Set the tank temperature in 60 oC (ST16).
5. Fix the hot water flow in 2 l/min approx (SC1) and adjust cold water flow to reach
stationary operation conditions, keeping constant temperature set for the tank.
6. Write down the temperature anf flow measurements on the experiment sheet.
7. Set the valves appropriately in order to invert cold water flow direction to produce a parallel
flow configuration.

8. Make sure that 60 oC temperature are maintained in the tank and cold and hot water
flow temperatures are the same or very similar to those obtained in countercurrent flow.
9. Once the system is stabilized, write down the temperature measurements and flows
values on the experiment sheet.
10. Calculate the heat transferred by the hot fluid, the heat gainted by the cold fluid and heat
losses. Calculate the logarithmic temperature mean difference and represent the temperature
distribution.
Results
- Experimental data
The results of the experiment are displayed in the tables below
Test 1
Test 2
Countercurrent flow
Parallel flow
ST -16 (oC)
60.0
60.0
ST 1 (oC)
55.4
56.5
o
ST 2 ( C)
51.3
55.4
o
ST 3 ( C)
54.1
29.2
o
ST 4 ( C)
50.3
55.4
o
ST 5 ( C)
50.2
55.0
o
ST 6 ( C)
43.3
55.2
o
ST 7 ( C)
29.2
53.3
SC 1 (l/min)
2.0
2.0
SC 2 (l/min)
0.4
0.3
- Table 1 : Data for countercurrent flow and parallel flow
- Sample Calculations: ST -16 = 60oC, countercurrent flow
Use Appendix 1 : Table of water properties.
Calculating hot water heat rate

Qh mh .c ph . Th .C ph .Th
2 103

60

s 4.180 10
m3

1.011103 m

= 565.05 ( W )

kg

J kg.K 55.4 51.3 (K )

Calculating cold water heat rate

Qc mc .c pc . Tc .C pc .Tc

0.4 103

60

s 4.178 10
m3

1.007 103 m

kg

J kg.K 54.1 29.2 (K )

= 668.73 ( W )
Calculating heat losses:

Ql Qh Qc 565.05 688.73 123.68(W )

Logarithmic average temperature different between hot and cold water:

Tlm

55.4 54.1 (51.3 29.2)

Ta Tb

T
ln 55.4 54.1
ln a
51.3 29.2
Tb

= 7.34 oC
- Result

Qh (W)
Qc (W)
Ql (W)
Tlm

Test 1
Countercurrent
flow
565.05
668.73
-123.68
7.34

Test 2
Parallel flow
151.60
499.95
-348.35
9.82

Table 2 : The result for both configurations

- Additional graphs

60
55
50
45
cold water T
40

hot water T

35
30
25
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Graph 1 : Temperature distribution for countercurrent flow

60
55
50
45
cold water T
40

hot water T

35
30
25
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Graph 2 : Temperature distribution for parallel flow

Discussion & Conclusions
- The heat transfer rate of hot water for countercurrent flow is much lager than one for
parallel flow
- The heat transfer rate of cold water for countercurrent flow is lager than one for parallel
flow
- The value of Q loss for countercurrent is much smaller than one for parallel flow so, the
effectiveness of countercurrent flow is higher than parallel flow or countercurrent configuration
optimizes the heat transfer.
- From data and the graph, Th,o for countercurrent flow is smaller than Th,o for parallel flow.
It indicates that the effectiveness of countercurrent flow is higher than parallel flow

References
[1]: Andrew Demedeiros, Ryan Ferguson, Bradford Powers ; Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger ;
November 19, 2009
[2] : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_and_tube_heat_exchanger