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CONDENSER WITHOUT SUBCOOLING

Flow rate 0.1kmol/s of essentially pure acetone vapour
from the overhead of a distillation column is to be considered
without any condensate sub-cooling. The condensation is to
be taken place on the shell side of a horizontal shell and tube
heat exchanger against cooling water flowing in a 2 pass in
the tube side. The operating pressure of the condenser is 1.52
bar. At this pressure Acetone condenses at 67 0C. The cooling
water can be assumed to be at 25 0C and to be returned to the
cooling tower at 350C. Assume the fouling coefficient to be
1100 W/m2K and 5000 W/m2K for the shell side and tube side
respectively. Design the condenser for the above duty:
Given data,
Physical properties
Density, (Kg/m3)
Specific heat, Cp (J/Kg.K)
Viscosity, (Ns/m2)
Thermal Conductivity, K
(W/mK)
Latent heat, (J/Kg)
Molecular weight

Acetone (67 0C)

736
2320
0.213 x 10-3
0.137

Water (35 0C)

996
4180
0.797 x 10-3
0.618

494000
58.079

18

Step 1: Heat Balance

For Hot fluid,
Q = mh
mh = 0.1kmol/s = 0.1 x 58.079 kg/s
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mh = 5.8 kg/s
Q = 5.8 x 494000
Q = 2865200 J/s
For cold fluid, Q = mcCpctc
tc = 35 25 = 10 0C
Now for finding mc ;
mc = Q / (Cpctc)
mc = 2865200 / (4180 x 10)
mc = 68.54 kg/s
Step 2: LMTD

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LMTD (Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference)

LMTD=

( T h 1T c2 )(T h 2T c1 )
ln

So,

(T h 1T c 2)
(T h 2T c 1)

LMTD=

( 6735 )(6725)
(6735)
ln
(6725)

LMTD = 36.77

LMTD correction factor: FT = 1 (since the process is

Isothermal)
Step 3: Routing
Hot fluid (Acetone) Shell side
Cold fluid (Cooling water) - Tube side
Step 4: Assuming the value of overall heat transfer
coefficient (U0)
The value of U0 can be taken from Perrys hand book (Page:
11-25)
For condensing vapour-liquid media
We take U0 = 100-200 Btu/0F.Ft2.h
Taking U0 = 150 Btu/0F.Ft2.h =150 x 5.678 W/m2.K
ie, U0 = 851.7 W/m2.K
Step 5: Overall Heat transfer area (A0)
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A 0=

Q
U 0 . LMTD. FT

A 0=

2865200
851.7 x 36.77 x 1

A0 = 91.49 m2
Step 6: Tube size, Pitch and Head
2-tube pass heat exchanger
Reference: Perrys hand book (Page: 11-42, Table: 11-12)
Assuming tube size, 14 BWG:
Outside diameter (d0)

=0.01905m

Inside diameter (di) = 0.584 = 0.0148m

Thickness (t)

= 0.083 = 0.0021m

Assuming Tube Length (L) = 16 ft = 4.876m

Assuming Tube pitch, Triangular Tube pitch (Pt)
Pt = 1.25 d0
Pt = 1.25 x 0.01905 = 0.0238 m
Head: Assuming Floating Head
Step 7: Number of Tubes
n=

A0
d0 L

n=

91.49
x 0.01905 x 4.876

= 313.46

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n 320
So corrected actual A0 value is,
A0,actual = nd0L
A0,actual = 320 x x 0.01905 x 4.876m= 93.38 m2
Similarly changed Actual U0,
U 0,actual =

Q
A 0,actual . L MTD . FT

U 0,actual =

2865200
93.38 x 36.77 x 1

= 834.46 W/m2.K

Step 8: Inside Heat transfer coefficient (hi)

Inside Tube, it is Cooling water. In order to calculate hi
physical properties of Cooling water have to be considered.
G=

mc
68.54 2 4
=
n 2 320 0.01482
d
24 i

= 2490.06 kg/m2.s

Reynolds number, Re = Gdi /

Re = 2490.06 x 0.0148 / 0.797 x 10-3
Re = 46239.50
Prandtl Number, Pr = Cp / K = 4180 x 0.797 x 10-3 / 0.618
Pr = 5.39
Friction factor, f = 0.25 (0.79 ln(Re) 1.64)-2
f = 0.25 (0.79 ln46239.50 1.64)-2
f = 5.33 x 10-3
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f/2 = 2.66 x 10-3

Nu=

(f /2)( 1000) Pr
1
2

2
3

1+12.7 (f /2) ( Pr 1)

Taking K = 1
Nu=

( 2.66 x 103 ) ( 46239.501000 ) 5.39

1
3 2

2
3

1+12.7 (2.66 x 10 ) (5.39 1)

Nu = 275.07
hi = Nu.K / di
hi = 275.07 x 0.618 /0.0148
hi = 11486.03 W/m2 K
Step 9: Outside heat transfer coefficient (h0)
1
1 1 d 0 xw d 0
= +
+
+ Rd i+ Rd0
U 0 h 0 hi d i K d m

Where, xw = (do - di) / 2 = 0.0021

dw = (do + di) / 2 = 0.0169
Km = 16.262 W/mK

1
1
1
0.01905
0.0021
0.01905
1
=

h0 834.46 11486.03 0.0148 16.262 K 1905.:Outside heat transfer coefficient () 0.0169 11000

Solving,
h0 = 1537.32 W/m2 K
Step 10: Wall temperature and Film temperature
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Tmean = 67 0C
tmean = (t1 +t2) / 2 = 30 0C
t meant w t w T mean
=
1
1 d0
h
hi d i
o

30t w
t 67
= w
1
0.01905
1

11486.03 0.0148
1537.32

Equating the above equation,

The wall temperature, tw = 35.47 0C

The film temperature,

tf=

t w+ tb
2

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t f =

35.47+67) / 2

tf = 51.23 0C = 324.23 K
Properties of Acetone at tf = 324.23 K,
From Perrys Hand book,
Cf = 226.58J/kg K
= 0.23 x 10-3 Pa s
Kf = 146 x 10-3 W/m K
= 756.314 kg / m3
Step 11: Finding film heat transfer coefficient:
Re = 4 / f
For Horizontal Heat exchanger, = mh / 2L
For Vertical Heat exchanger, = mc / d0
So, = 5.8 / (2 x 4.876) = 0.5947
=

4 0.5947
0.26 103

Re = 9149.23
3

1.51 D g
Nu= 1 ( 0 2f ) 3
f
3

Nu=

1.51
0.019053 756.314 2 9.8 13
(
)
9149.232/ 3
(0.26 103 )2

Nu = 59.975
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Now, hf = Nu.Kf / d0
hf = 59.575 x 0.146 / 0.01905
hf = 459.65 W/m2.K
Correspondingly changed Overall heat transfer coefficient U o1
is,
1
1 1 d0 xw d0
= +
+
+ Rdi + Rd 0
U o 1 h f h i di K d m

Substituting the values and solving the above equation,

Uo1 = 367.17 W/m2.K
Compare Uo1 and U0,actual
Here, U0,actual = 834.46 W/m2.K and Uo1 = 367.17 W/m2.K
Hence Uo1 U0,actual; the design needs recalculation
The recalculation is done by the following methods,
1) Changing the Length of the tube.
2) Changing the number of the tubes.
Step 12: Recalculating by changing length of tube:
Change L = 24 ft = 7.315 cm
When L changes hf also changes as follows,
1

3
3
h f ,old Lnew
=h f ,new Lold

So,

h f ,new =459.65

7.315
4.876

1
3

hf,new = 526.19 W/m2 K

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When hf,new changes Overall heat transfer coefficient also

changes subsequently.(Uo,2)
1
1
1 d 0 xw d0
=
+
+
+ Rd i+ Rd 0
U o 2 h f , new hi d i K d m

Substituting values and solving the above equation,

Uo2 = 407.02 W/m2 K
Compare Uo2 and U0,actual
Hence UO2 U0,actual; the design needs recalculation
Step 13: Recalculating by changing number of tubes:
Changing n = 450 (assuming)
When n changes hi also changes.
To find new hi ,
G=

mc
68.54 2 4
=
n 2 450 0.01482
d
24 i

= 1770.713 kg/m2.s

Reynolds number, Re = Gdi /

Re = 1770.713 x 0.0148 / 0.797 x 10-3
Re = 33172.85
Prandtl Number, Pr = Cp / K = 4180 x 0.797 x 10-3 / 0.618
Pr = 5.39
Friction factor, f = 0.25 (0.79 ln(Re) 1.64)-2
f = 0.25 (0.79 ln(33172.85) 1.64)-2
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f = 5.76 x 10-3
f/2 = 2.88 x 10-3
Nu=

(f /2)( 1000) Pr
1
2

2
3

1+12.7 (f /2) ( Pr 1)

Taking K = 1
Nu=

( 2.88 x 103 ) ( 33172.851000 ) 5.39

1
3 2

2
3

1+12.7 (2.88 x 10 ) (5.39 1)

Nu = 206.97
hi,new = Nu.K / di
hi,new = 206.97x 0.618 /0.0148
hi,new = 88642.51 W/m2 K
When hi changes, Film temperature have to be recalculated,
t meant w , new t w ,new T mean
=
1
1 d0
h o ,new
hi ,new d i

So,

30t w ,new
t
67
= w , new
1
0.01905
1

8642.51 0.0148
526.19

Equating the above equation,

The wall temperature, tw,new = 28.76 0C

The film temperature,

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t f , new =

t w , new +t b
2

t f , new=

28.76+67) / 2

tf,new = 47.8 0C = 320.8K

Properties of Acetone at tf = 324.23 K,
From Perrys Hand book,
= 0.27 x 10-3 Pa s
Kf = 145 x 10-3 W/m K
= 760 kg / m3
Now find the subsequent film heat transfer coefficient (hf1);
Re = 4 / f
For Horizontal Heat exchanger, = mh / 2L
So, = 5.8 / (2 x 7.315) = 0.396
=

4 0.396
0.27 103

Re = 5873.26
3 2
1
1.51 D0 f g 3
Nu= 1 (
)
2f
3
Re

Nu=

1.51
0.019053 7602 9.8 13
(
)
5873.262/ 3
(0.27 103 )2

Nu = 68.01
Now, hf1 = Nu.Kf / d0
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hf1 = 68.01 x 0.145 / 0.01905

hf1 = 517.68 W/m2.K
Correspondingly changed Overall heat transfer coefficient U o2
is,
1
1 1 d0 xw d0
= +
+
+ Rd i + Rd0
U o 2 h f 1 hi d i K d m

Substituting the values and solving the above equation,

Uo2 = 397.36 W/m2.K
Compare Uo2 and U0,actual
Hence Uo2 U0,actual; the design is correct.

Step 14: Shell side specifications:

Pt = 0.0238 m
Finding the Bundle diameter (Db)
For 2-tube pass,
Nt = 1266 + 73.58 C + 1.234 C2 0.0071 C3 0.0005 C4 ---(page 11-43, eqn:11-74b)
Neglecting the variable C4 term in above equation we get,
450 = 1266 + 73.58 C + 1.234 C2 0.0071 C3
Equation on solving gives, C = 222.68, -15.44, -33.41
But accuracy of C is -24 C 24
Hence, C = -15.44
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C=0.75

Db
36
d0

So, Db = (36-15.44) 0.01905 / 0.75

Bundle diameter, Db= 0.522 m
For finding Shell inside diameter (DS)
DS = Db + 2(clearance)
Taking clearance be 0.029 m (for floating head)
DS = 0.522 + (2 x 0.029)
Shell inside diameter, DS = 0.58 m

Step 15: Pressure drop calculations:

1) Tube Side pressure drop:
P1 =

4 G2 fL
2
2 g d i

P1 =

4 1770.7132 5.76 103 7.315

2 9.8 9962 0.0148

P1 = 1.836 m/pass
Entrance and exit lose;
4 G2
P 2=
2 g 2

P2 =

4 1770.7132
2
2 9.8 996

P2 = 0.645 m/pass
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P = P1 + P2 = (1.836 + 0.645) m/pass

P = 3.48 Pa/pass
Total number of pass is 2,
So, P = 3.48 x 2
P = 6.96 Pa
1) Shell side pressure drop:
Reference: Perrys hand book
1)

DS
[ 12 ( lc /D S ) ]
Pp

N C=

------- (eqn:11-7)

Taking lc = 0.25 (0r) (25%)

N C=

0.58
[12 ( 0.25 / 0.58 ) ]
0.0206

NC = 3.883
2)

S m=l s D sDotl +

Here

ls

D otlD o
P

'

= BS and

S m=0.59 0.580.522+

( P' Do )

------------(eqn: 11-10b)

P' =Pt
0.5220.01905
( 0.02380.01905 )
0.0238

Sm = 0.079 m2
From figure: 11-15(a); fK = 0.19
Pbk =

b f k W 2 N c w
b
S2m

0.14

( )

-------------(eqn:11-25)

Where, b = 2 x 10-3
Pbk =

2.0 103 0.18 5.8 2 3.883 0.27 104

736 0.079 2
0.213 103

Pbk = 0.010
15

0.14

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N cw=

Then

0.8 l c 0.8 0.025

=
=9.7
Pp
0.00206
2 lc
Ds

1
()(1

2l c
2l
) 1 1 c
Ds
Ds

---------(eqn: 11-15)

cos
D2
Swg = s
4
1
()(1

0.5
0.58

0.5
0.5 2
) 1(1
)
0.58
0.58
cos1
0.582
S wg=

Swg = 0.109 m2
FC =

[ (

D 2 l c
D 2 l c
D 2l c
1
+2 s
sin s
2 cos1 s

Dotl
D otl
D otl

) (

)]

--------(eqn: 11-

8)
Here Dotl = Db
FC =

[ (

1
0.580.5
0.580.5
0.580.5
+2
sin
2 cos1

0.522
0.522
0.522

) (

FC = 0.195
S wt =

Nt
(1F c ) D20
8

S wt =

450
( 10.195 ) x 0.019052
8

-------------(eqn: 11-16)

Swt = 0.0519 m2
Sw = Swg - Swt

---------------(eqn: 11-14)
16

)]

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Sw = 0.109 0.0519 = 0.0571 m2

Pwk =

b W 2 (2+0.6 N cw )
Sm Sw

Here, b =
Pwk =

----------------(eqn: 11-25)
4

5 10

4
2
5 10 5.8 [2+ ( 0.6 9.7 ) ]
0.0571 0.079 736

Pwk = 0.396
N b=

L2 l e
+1
ls

N b=

-------(eqn: 11-19)

7.315(2 x 0.25)
+1
0.573

Nb = 12.41 13
To find Rb (fig11-7)
Taking Nss/Nc = 0.1
Fbp =( DsD otl )

ls
Sm

---------------(eqn:11-11)

Fbp =( 0.580.522 )

Fbp = 0.42
Rb = 0.56

0.58
0.079

(from graph)

To find Rl (fig: 11-16)

S tb=b D 0 N t (1+ F C )

-------------------(eqn: 11-12)

Where b = 6.223 x 10-4

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Stb = 6.223 x 10-4 x 0.01905 x 450 (1 + 0.195)

Stb = 6.37 m2
S sb =

Ds s b
2l
cos1 (1 c )
2
Ds

S sb =

----------------(eqn: 11-13)

0.58 x 0.029
0.5
cos1 (1
)
2
0.58

Ssb = 0.014 m2
S sb+ S tb
=0.25
Sm
S sb
=0.687
S sb+ S tb

Rl = 0.34

a.

(from graph)

Ps = ( N b 1 ) Pbk R b+ N b P wk Rl +2 Pbk Rb 1+

N cw
Nc

)]

---------(eqn:11-

25)

Ps = ( 9 0.01 0.56 ) + ( 8 0.396 0.34 ) +2 0.01 0.56 1+

Ps

= 0.2361 lbf/ft2

18

9.7
3.883

)]

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19