A Selection Guide for DTL Series Heat Exchangers

This is your guide to sizing and selecting DTL series heat exchangers. We recommend that you read
this page completely before continuing to the step-by-step procedure on the following pages.

The graphs in this guide present data for specific

ranges of the given parameters. Operating the
heat exchanger above or below these ranges is
not recommended.

Standard engineering symbols and subscripts have

been used throughout this guide and are listed
below. Units are displayed with each graph along
with a table for conversion.
Symbols

All charts related to thermal parameters (Steps 1

through 3) are for counterflow operation of the
heat exchanger. Parallel flow will result in a
significant reduction in thermal performance and
is not recommended.

A
F
H
L
LMTD
M
P
Q
U

A worksheet is attached to this guide. Maintain

this sheet as an original. Always work on a
photocopy
Thermo Dynamics Ltd.
101 Frazee Avenue
Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia Drive
81 Thornhill
Canada,Dartmouth,
B3B-1Z4
Nova Scotia
Tel: (902) 468
- 1001 B3B 1R9
Canada,
Fax: (902) 468 - 1002
www.thermo-dynamics.com
Tel: (902) 468-1001
solarinfo@thermo-dynamics.com

THER MO

D YN A M IC S L T D .

Fax: (902) 468-1002

TIPS FOR USING THIS GUIDE:

Always specify counterflow operation for
maximum performance.
The heat exchanger can be mounted
vertically if required, however, this may
require special mounting brackets.
If the sizing procedure suggests a nonstandard length heat exchanger, use the
next larger size or consider using two
shorter heat exchangers.

Subscripts
i
Inlet Condition
o
Outlet Condition
s
Shell Side
t
Tube Side

The heat exchanger illustrated is comprised of

two DTL series heat exchangers. The shell side
flow is divided between the two heat
exchangers. The full flow passes through the
tube side of each heat exchanger. This plumbing
arrangement is typical for oil-fired boilers, that
is, where a relatively large temperature rise is
required for the tube side fluid (potable water)
and a relatively small temperature drop is
required for the shell side flow.
A
QUICKPICK table for heat exchanger selection
is available from Thermo Dynamics for
selecting these heat exchangers. For special
applications not covered by this guide, contact
Thermo Dynamics Ltd. for assistance.
Ts,i
Tt,i

Never rely on the copper ports to support

the heat exchanger.
Consider using two or more heat
exchangers when:
a) the Heat Transfer Load, Q, is greater
than 400 MBtu/h,
b) space for locating the heat exchanger is
limited, or
c) temperature and flow parameters are
outside the recommended range for a
single heat exchanger.
DTL HX Sizing

Heat Exchanger A rea

Flow Head loss
Modifying Factor
Heat Exchanger Length
Log Mean Temperature Difference
Fluid Volume Flow Rate
Pumping Power
Heat Transfer Load
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Heat Exchanger #1
Tt,o
Heat Exchanger #2
Ts,o

The DTL series heat exchanger is also capable of

operating with natural circulation on the tube side.
A separate guide has been prepared to assist in
selection of heat exchangers for these applications.
Consult the Thermo Dynamics for details and
technical assistance.

February 1992

page 1 of
6

STEP 1: Known O perating Parameters

Ts,i

Unit Conversions
From
kW
IGPM
kg/s
C

Ts,o

To
MBtu/hr
USGPM
IGPM
F

Multiply by
3.4123
1.2
13.19
1.8

Tt,o
Tt,i
Consider
the
following
when
allocating the heat transfer fluids:

200

Fluids under high pressure and/or

corrosive
fluids
are
generally
circulated through the tube side.

180

Chemical cleaning is recommended.

Mechanical cleaning is not possible
with DTL Series heat exchangers.

140

400
Heat Transfer Load
Q (MBtu/h)

160

To - Ti (F)

High viscosity fluid should be

circulated on the shell side. Propylene
glycol, for example, has higher
viscosity than water.

300

200

120
160

100

120

80
80

60
40

Head loss on the tube side of the heat

exchanger is generally ten times less
than the shell side head loss for equal
flow rates.

40

20
20
0
2

1.1 Make a note of the following

parameters in the boxes provided on
the Worksheet.

10

Ms or Mt
(USGPM)

Shell Side Inlet Temperature, Ts,i

Tube Side Inlet Temperature, Tt,i
Heat Transfer Load, Q
Shell Side Outlet Temperature, Ts,o
Tube Side Outlet Temperature, Tt,o

90

Use the figures given here to

determine Ts,o and Tt,o from the flow
rate or vice versa. The figures are for
water as the working fluid.

60

80
70

For 50/50 or 40/60 propylene

glycol/water mixtures multiply (To-Ti)
by 1.1.
If To - Ti gives a negative result then
simply drop the negative sign when
using the graphs at the right.
Always operate within the range of
parameters provided. This will ensure
that flow is turbulent but not
excessively noisy.
page 2 of

To - Ti (F)

1.2
50
Heat Transfer Load
Q (MBtu/h)

40
30

400
20
10

80

120

160

300

200

0
10

15

20

25

30

Ms or Mt
(USGPM)

35

40

45

50

STEP 2: The O verall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Unit Conversions

2.1 Estimate the Degree of Fouling:

To
From
USGPM
IGPM
Btu/h-ft2-F W/m2-K

Light Fouling - Distilled water

Moderate Fouling - Treated boiler
feedwater, below 120F (50C)

2.2

Estimate the overall heat transfer

coeffient, U, from the appropriate graph
using the shell side flow rate, Ms. Two
cases are presented (A and B). Both are
valid for forced circulation on the shell
and tube sides only.

Tube Side: Water, Forced Circulation

Shell Side: Water, Forced Circulation

700
600

U (Btu/h-ft2-F)

Heavy Fouling - Treated boiler

feedwater above 120F (50C), River
water, Well water, propylene glycol
/water.

Multiply by
1.2
5.68

2"
3"

500

4"

Light

400
Medium
300
Heavy

200
100

If the hotter fluid is circulated on the

tube side, then increase U by 10%.

Make a note of U in the box provided on

the Worksheet.

10

15

400

2"
350

4"

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Ms (USGPM)

Tube Side: Water, Forced Circulation

Shell Side: PG/Water 50/50, Forced
Circulation

450

U (Btu/h-ft2-F)

Light

3"

300
Medium
250
200
Heavy
150
1
100
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Ms
(USGPM)

45

50

0.9
0.8
0.7

4"

0.6

3"

0.5
0.4

2.3 Calculate the ratio of shell side to tube side flow

rates, Ms/Mt.

0.3

2.4 Estimate the factor, F, using the flow rate ratio

and make a note in the box provided on the
Worksheet.

0.1
0

2"

0.2

9 10

Ms/Mt
page 3 of

STEP 3: Log Mean Temperature

Difference
T2 (F)

Unit Conversions

185
165

180

120

145
125
105
85
65

100

45

80

25
15

160

LMTD (F)

140

60

Multiply by
1.8

3.1 Calculate T1 and T2 using the

equations
provided
on
the
Worksheet.
If the above calculations result in
a negative value for T1 and/or
T2 then simply drop the
negative sign prior to using the
graph at the right.

40
20

3.2
Estimate LMTD from the graph.
Make a note of LMTD in the box
provided on the Worksheet.

0
0

20

40

60

80

100 120 140 160

180 200

T1 (F)

Unit Conversions

STEP 4: Heat Exchanger Length

Length (ft)

To
F

From
C

200

12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3

To
ft
ft2

From
m
m2

Divide by
0.3048
0.0929

4"
3"
2"

12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45
Area (ft2)
6

A =

Q x 1000

2"

F x U x LMTD

4.2

page 4 of

Calculate the required heat exchanger

area using the formula given above.
Record the result in the box provided on
the Worksheet.
Use the heat exchanger area, A, and
shell diameter, to determine the heat
exchanger length from the appropriate
graph.
Record the heat exchanger
length in the box provided on the
Worksheet.

Length (ft)

4.1

3
2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

Area (ft2)

5.0

5.5

Unit Conversions

STEP 5: HEAD LO SS

From
psi
IGPM

Use the graphs below to estimate the head loss for the shell side and
tube side flow through the DTL series heat exchangers. The head loss
is useful for pump sizing and estimating the operating costs of the
heat exchanger. Given the heat exchanger length, shell diameter and
corresponding flow rates, estimate the head loss and record it in the
box provided on the Worksheet. A procedure for estimating the
operating costs of the heat exchanger is given on the Worksheet.
Note: The graphs below are not valid for natural circulation flow.

To
ft
USGPM

Multiply by
2.307
1.20

50
9'

45
40

Hs (ft)

6'

3"

35
30

6'

25

3'

12'

3'

6'
4"

2"

20

3'

15
10
5
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Ms
(USGPM)
10
12'

6'

3'

4"
7
6

Ht (ft)

9'
3"

6'

3
6'

2
2"

3'

1
3'

0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Mt (USGPM)
page 5 of 6

DTL
WO RKSHEET
Use this page to record the various
parameters that are found throughout the
procedure. Photocopy this page and keep
it as a permanent copy of the sizing
information.

Tt,i

File number:

Job Number:

Sized By:

Ts,i

Ts,o

Tt,o

Known Operating Parameters

Ts,i

Date:

Tt,i
Section

Results

2.2 or 2.3

Btu/h-ft2-F

Ds

inches

MBtu/h

2.4

Ms/Mt

Ts,o

2.5

Tt,o

3.1 T1 = Ts,i - Tt,o

Ms

USGPM

3.1 T2 = Ts,o - Tt,i

Mt

USGPM

3.2

LMTD

4.1

Area

ft2

4.2

Length

ft

Operating Costs:
Power Consumption = Ms x Hs + Mt x Ht
=
5.29
5.29

5.29

$/kWh Electrical Energy Cost

$/Year = $/kWh x kWh/Year

Number
of Tubes
7
14
28

Shell
Lengths
Available
3,4 and 6(ft)
3,4,6,8 and 9
4,6,8,9 and 12

Watts

Note that there are generally several heat

exchangers that will satisfy the given
operating conditions. The heat exchanger
that gives the lowest overall total cost should
be selected. Remember that the cost of the
pump and installation must be considered in
the overall cost of the heat exchanger. Cost
of pumping through connecting pipe must
also be considered.

kWh/yr = Power Consumption x Hours / 1000

Shell
Diameter (in)
2
3
4

5.29

Hours of Pump Operation per Year

Standard Sizes Available

PLACING AN ORDER:
Specify the model number in the spaces
provided.
Contact Thermo Dynamics Ltd. at
Tel. (902) 468-1001
Email: thermody@atcon.com
Facsimile
(902) 468-1002

Special orders available upon request.

Quantity
page 6 of 6

Model D