LAB 4

PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

1.0 OBJECTIVE
1.1

To demonstrate the working principles of a plate heat exchanger operating under

parallel flow conditions and counter flow conditions.

1.2 To determine the overall heat transfer coefficient for both parallel and counter flow
system.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
The SOLTEQ Heat Transfer Service Unit (Plate Heat Exchanger) (Model: HE104-P
& HE104-P-A) has been designed specifically to demonstrate the working principles of
industrial heat exchangers in the most convenient way possible in the laboratory
classroom. The equipment consists of a plate heat exchanger mounted on a support
frame. The external surface of the piping is insulated. Two temperature measuring
devices are installed in both the inside and outside tubes to measure the fluid
temperatures accurately. The flow rates are measured using independent flow meters
installed in each line.

3.0 THEORY
Plate heat exchangers are used extensively in the food and beverage industries due to
the fact that they are easily taken apart for cleaning and inspection.
The general equation for heat transfer across a surface is:
Q = U A Tm

(1)

Where,
Q
U
A
Tm

=
=
=
=

heat transfer per unit time, W

the overall heat transfer coefficient, W/m2C
heat transfer area, m2.
the mean temperature difference, the temperature driving force,

C
The mean temperature difference is normally expressed in terms of log-mean
temperature difference,
For counter-current flow:

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Tlm

T1 t 2 T2 t 1
T t
ln 1 2
T2 t 1

(2)

For co-current/ parallel flow:

Tlm

Tlm
T1
T2
t1
t2

=
=
=
=
=

T1 t 1 T2 t 2
T t
ln 1 1
T2 t 2

(3)

log mean temperature difference

inlet hot water temperature
outlet hot water temperature
inlet cold water temperature
outlet cold water temperature

From the energy balance principle:

Power Emitted = Power Absorb + Power Loss
Where,

Power Emitted, WE QH H CpH (TH ,in TH ,out )

Power Absorbed, WA QC C CpC (TC ,out Tc ,in )

Efficiency for the system can be calculated by applying the following equation:

Power Absorbed
100%
Power Emitted

Overall heat transfer coefficient, U

Power Absorbed
t m Area

Where,
Area = surface of contact area
= (width x length) x (number of plates 1)

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An example of schematic diagram for the flat plate heat exchanger, which is described in
detail, is shown as below:

Figure 1: Counter Current Flow

Figure 2: Co- current /Parallel

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4.0 EQUIPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS

4.1 Equipment

8
9
8
7

3
5
4

7
8

Figure 3: Rear view of the Heat Transfer Service Unit

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Pump
Circulation Valve, V2
Pump Inlet Valve, V1
Water Tank
Heater
Level Switch
Drain Valve
Water Tank Cover

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2
1

2
3

1
5

1
4

1
6

1
0

2
0
1
8

2
5
2
4

2
2

1
1
1
9

1
7

Figure 4: Front view of the Heat Transfer Service Unit

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Temperature Controller
Temperature Selector
Main Switch
Water Outlet
Water Inlet
Temperature Indicator
Flow Meter ,FI1
Flow Meter, FI2
Flow Meter Control Valve, V7

18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Flow Meter Control Valve, V8

Control Valve
Plate Heat Exchanger
Temperature Sensor, T1
Temperature Sensor, T2
Temperature Sensor, T3
Temperature Sensor, T4
Temperature Sensor, T5

4.2 Specifications

Area = surface of contact area

= (width x length) x (number of plates 1)
= (0.12 x 0.23) x (6 1)
= 0.14 m2

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1
2
5

1
3

5.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

5.2

Experiment 1: Parallel Flow Arrangement

5.2.1 Set hot water inlet temperature on the temperature controller at 60 C.

5.2.2 Position of the valves for parallel flow.

Position
Open
Close

Valve
V4, V5
V3, V6

5.2.3 The cold water flow rate,QC is set constant at 3 LPM.

5.2.4 Set hot water flow rate QH at 5 LPM.
5.2.5 Record the hot and cold water temperatures at inlet and outlet once
conditions have stabilized.
5.3

Experiment 2: Counter Current Flow Arrangement

5.3.1 Set hot water inlet temperature on the temperature controller at 60 C.

5.3.2 Position of the valves for counter current flow.

Position
Open
Close

Valve
V3, V6
V4, V5

5.3.3 The cold water flow rate, QC is set constant at 3 LPM.

5.3.4 Set hot water flow rate QH at 5 LPM.
5.3.5 Record the hot and cold water temperatures at inlet and outlet once
conditions have stabilized.

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6.0 RESULT AND CALCULATION

1. Table of data for exp 1 (CO-CURRENT/ PARALLEL)

Initial values used:

COLD WATER HOT WATER

Controlled hot water temperature

Hot water flow rate, QH
Cold water flow rate, QC

= 60 C
= 5.0 LPM
= 3.0 LPM

TT3, tH(in) (C)

TT4, tH(out) (C)
tH,ave (C)
Hot(kg/m)
Cp,Hot (kJ/Kg.K)
TT2, tC(out) (C)
TT1, tC(in) (C)
tc,ave (C)
cold(kg/m)

48.90
42.10

40.30
30.00

Cp,cold (kJ/Kg.K)

Power
Power
Emitted Absorbed
W
W

Power
Lost
W

Efficiency
%

tm
C

CALCULATION

1. Power Emitted , W Q H H Cp H TH , in TH , out

2. Power Absorbed , W QC C CpC TC , out TC , in
3. Power Lost , W Power Emitted Power Absorbed
Power Absorbed

4. System Efficiency , Power Emitted x 100%

5.

LMTD, tm

H , in

TC , in TH , out TC , out

ln

H , in

TC , in

TH , out TC , out

6. Overall Heat Transfer Coefficien t , U

Power Absorbed
t m x Area

2. Table of data for exp 2 (COUNTER CURRENT)

-7-

U
W/m C

COLD WATER HOT WATER

INITIAL VALUES USED:

Controlled hot water temperature
Hot water flow rate, QH
Cold water flow rate, QC

= 60 C
= 5.0 LPM
= 3.0 LPM

TT3, tH(in) (C)

TT4, tH(out) (C)
tH,ave (C)
Hot(kg/m)
Cp,Hot (kJ/Kg.K)
TT1, tC(out) (C)
TT2, tC(in) (C)
tc,ave (C)
cold(kg/m)

49.00
38.20

46.80
28.70

Cp,cold (kJ/Kg.K)

Power
Power
Emitted Absorbed
W
W

Power
Lost
W

Efficiency
%

tm
C

U
W/m C

3. Determine the system efficiency of parallel and counter current flow arrangement.
Show your calculations.

CALCULATION
1.Power emitted
2.Power absorbed

= QH H CpH (THin - THout)

= QC C CpC (TCout TCin)

3.Power lost

= power emitted - power absorbed

4.Efficiency

= power emitted 100%

power absorbed

5.Log mean temperature difference

TH , in TC , in TH , out TC , out
LMTD, tm
TH , in TC , in

ln
TH , out TC , out

-8-

power absorbed
t m area
6.Overall heat transfer coefficient, U =

Where,
Area = surface of contact area
= (width x length) x (number of plates 1)
= (0.12 x 0.23) x (6 1)
= 0.14 m2

7.0 CONCLUSION
1. Compare the system efficiency of parallel and counter current flow.
2. Discuss the effect of flow rate variation on the plate heat exchanger operating
performance.

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8.0 APPENDIX
Table 1: Properties of water (saturated liquid)
C
21.11
26.67
30.00
31.00
32.00
32.22
34.00
34.30
34.65
35.15
35.65
35.90
36.20
36.40
37.25
47.20
48.89
50.00
51.50
54.44
54.65
55.00
55.05
55.50
56.50
57.00
57.25
59.70
60.00
65.00
65.55

Cp
kJ/kg. K
4.179
4.179
4.176
4.175
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.174
4.175
4.176
4.179
4.179
4.179
4.179
4.179
4.180
4.180
4.180
4.181
4.179
4.183
4.183

kg/m3
997.40
995.80
995.26
995.10
994.94
994.90
994.23
994.14
993.99
993.83
993.61
993.53
993.38
993.35
993.02
989.42
988.80
988.18
987.36
985.70
985.61
985.46
985.42
985.22
984.71
984.48
984.41
983.16
983.30
980.60
980.30

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