AE 381: Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Lab 1: Double Pipe Heat Exchanger

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Worarat Patprakorn

Peerapol Lhowmongkolchai 5710751305

Prasan Kitina 5710751552

Chatthariga Suan-in 5710753061

Experiment Date

Monday 27th March 2017

Submission Date

Monday 3rd April 2017

Table of Content

Abstract 3

Objectives 4

Introduction and Theory 4

Materials and Apparatus 8

Experimental Procedures 9

Experimental Data 10

Results 14

Discussion 18

Conclusion 19

Improvement 19

Appendix 20

Reference 24

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Abstract:

This experiment allowed the study of operation of double-pipe heat exchanger and
determining the heat transfer coefficients for inside and outside of the tube (cold water;h0 and
hot water; hi) and the overall heat transfer coefficient from experiment. The focus of this
experiment is finding the effect of liquid flows pattern inside the heat exchanger as being
counter-current or co-current on the mechanism of heat transfer and comparing the results.
The experiment is done out by fixing a constant flow rate of cold water and varying the flow
rate of the hot water. The flow rates of cold water are set to be 30 and 40 g/s and the flow
rates of hot water are varied to 20,26,30,36,40 g/s. The same conditions of flowrate of hot
water and cold water are applied for both the experiments for counter-current and co-current
flow. The inlet and outlet temperature of each stream of hot water and cold water is measured
to calculate for the overall heat transfer coefficient. Additionally, the heat transfer coefficient
of hot water (hi) and cold water (h0) can be determine from the a linear relationship plot
between the reciprocal of the overall heat transfer coefficient against the reciprocal of the hot
water flow rate(1/Ui VS 1/Vi0.8); also known as the Wilson Plot. From this experiment, it is
found that the efficiency and the overall heat transfer coefficient is affected by the liquid
flows pattern inside the heat exchanger. According to the results, it is evident that counter-
current flow is more efficient than co-current as the overall heat transfer coefficient for the
double pipe heat exchanger is higher for counter-current. The heat transfer coefficients
increase with the flow rate of hot water for every experiment because the amount of energy
carried by hot water increases as well. For the co-current flow, there is a reverse variation
with the flow rate of cold water as when the flow rate of cool water increases, the heat
transfer coefficient is decreases. For counter current flow, the overall heat transfer coefficient
increases with flow rate of cool water. Theoretically, the rate of heat transfer from the hot
fluid is equal to the rate of heat transfer to the cool one. But practically, it is not, as
experimental model is not a steady-flow device as mass flow rate of water is not constant;
during the experiment the water stopped flowing momentarily. Moreover, the temperature
and fluid velocity at the inlet or outlet could have not remain constant causing change in
kinetic and potential. Having the outer surface of the heat exchange not perfectly insulated
resulted in heat loss to the surrounding; leading to some error when reading the temperature
values. All temperatures measurement are made with the machine of the experimental set, it
is assumed to be accurate Doing more trials and getting the average was already done to
obtain more accurate data, so very few improvement could be done here in this experiment.

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Objectives:

1. To study the operation of double-pipe heat exchanger

2. To determine the heat transfer coefficients for inside and outside of the tube from the
experiment
3. To compare the efficiency between co-current and counter-current heat exchanger

Introduction and Theory:

An example of a heat-transfer equipment could be a simple double-pipe exchanger

like the one shown in the diagram below. Double-pipe exchangers compose of double
standard pipe where one fluid flows within the inside pipe and the other fluid flows through
the annular space between the 2 pipes. Heat exchangers are used to decrease the temperature
of a hot fluid and increase the temperature of the cool fluid.

T1

t1

t2

T2

The rate of heat transfer inside the heat exchanger can be calculated by,

Q=U i Ai T ln (1)

Where,

Q = Amount of heat transfer inside the heat exchanger (W)

Ui = Overall heat transfer coefficient based on inside surface area (W/m2K)

Ai = Surface area of inside of tube

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 Tln =log-mean temperature difference which is defined as,

T 1 T 2
T ln = (2)
T1
ln
( )
T2

Where T1 and T2 depend on the liquid flows pattern inside the heat exchanger as being
counter-current or co-current)

Many variables have an effect on the overall heat transfer coefficient, including the physical
properties of the fluids and of the solid wall, the flow rates, and the exchanger dimensions.
However, the overall heat transfer coefficient can be estimated by using the correlations for
the individual resistances of the solid and the fluid layers and adding these resistances
together. Considering the local overall coefficient at a specific point in the double-pipe
exchanger and assuming that the warm fluid flow in the inside pipe and that the cold fluid
flows between the annular space, the temperature profile is divided into three separate parts.
One is through each of the two fluids and the other through the metal wall as shown below.

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From the diagram above, there are 3 steps of heat transfer,

Q1=hA (T bT w ) (3)

Q 2=( k / l ) A(T w t w ) (4)

Q3=hA (t w t c ) (5)

Where,

Q1 = Convective heat transfer inside the tube (W)

Q2 = Conductive heat transfer through the metal tube (W)

Q3 = Convective heat transfer outside the tube (W)

Under the steady-state heat transfer, Q1, Q2 and Q3 are the same.

Since Q obtained from Equation (1) is equal to Equations (3), (4), (5), the overall coefficient
can be determined as,

Di Di
1 1 l
= +
U i hi k ( )( ) ( )( )
Dav
+
1
ho Do
(6)

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If the flow pattern in pipe is turbulent (Re > 4000), there is a relationship between heat
transfer coefficient (h) and velocity (V) as indicated below,

0.8
hi=a V i (7)

where,

a = constant

Vi = liquid flow rate inside the pipe

Substitute Equation (7) into Equation (6) yields,

Di Di
1
=
1
Ui aVi 0.8
+ ( )( D )+( h1 )( D )(8)
l
k av o o

Di Di
0.8
The plot of 1/Ui VS 1/Vi results a straight line with y-intercept of ( )( ) ( )( )
l
k Dav
+
1
ho Do

and the slope of 1/a. This calculation method is called Wilson Plot which can be used

The amount of heat transfer by the exchanger can be calculated as described below,

For counter-current

T

1 T 2
Hot water:

Q4 =W h C ph

t

2t 1
Cold water:

Q 5=W c C pw

For Co-current

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 T

1 T 2
Hot water:

Q 4 =W h C ph

t

1 t 2
Cold water:

Q5=W c C pw

Material and Apparatus:

1. Double pipe heat exchanger experimental set

2. Measuring Tape

Page | 8
 3. Vernier Caliper

Experimental Procedures:

1. Set up the experimental set, starting with co-current flow

2. Fix the flowrate of cold water at 40 g/s
3. Set the flowrate of hot water, starting with 20g/s
4. Wait until the system is steady state (temperature reading looks constant), then collect
the data of temperature of:
1) Hot water in
2) Hot water out
3) Cool water in
4) Cold water out
5. Repeat step 2-4 but alter the flowrate of hot water to 26,30,36,40 g/s respectively
6. Repeat step 5 but alter the flowrate of cold water to 30g/s
7. Repeat all steps but change the flow from co-current to counter-current

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Experimental Data:

Inner Tube Copper

wall thickness 0.001 m
Inner diameter 16.15 mm
Outer Tube steel
wall thickness 0.001 m
Outer diameter 22.075 mm
length 166 cm

T1 = Hot water in
T2 = Hot water out
T3 = Cool water in
T4 = Cool water out
Co-current

Fix flow rate of cool water 40 g/s

hot water = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 average

T1 65.1 54.9 67.5 54.8 60.575
T2 42.7 43 41.3 42.9 42.475
T3 28.3 28.3 28.3 28.4 28.325
T4 39.1 37.4 38.1 37.4 38
hot water = 26 g/s 1 2 3 4 average
T1 59.2 65.5 62.6 61.8 62.275
T2 44.3 44.4 44.1 45.1 44.475
T3 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4
T4 39.3 40.4 39.5 40.1 39.825
hot water = 30 g/s 1 2 3 average
T1 59.3 64 62.3 61.866667
T2 44.6 45.4 46 45.333333
T3 28.4 28.3 28.3 28.333333
T4 40 41 41.2 40.733333
hot water = 36 g/s 1
T1 64.4
T2 48
T3 28.5
T4 43.1
hot water = 40 g/s 1
T1 64.3
T2 48.7
T3 28.4
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T4 43.6
Fix flow rate of cool water 30 g/s

hot water = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 average

T1 58.2 73.9 56.8 66.5 63.85
T2 46.3 44.9 45.9 42.7 44.95
T3 28.4 28.5 28.5 28.4 28.45
T4 41.1 41.7 40.7 38.6 40.525
hot water = 26 g/s 1 2 3 average
62.06666
T1 59.1 66 61.1
7
46.53333
T2 46.5 46.1 47
3
28.43333
T3 28.4 28.5 28.4
3
41.93333
T4 41.7 41.8 42.3
3
hot water = 30 g/s 1 2 average
T1 63.8 64.3 64.05
T2 48.4 48.5 48.45
T3 28.4 28.4 28.4
T4 43.7 43.7 43.7
hot water = 36 g/s 1 2 3 average
63.76666
T1 62 65.9 63.4
7
49.73333
T2 49.4 49.8 50
3
T3 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4
45.03333
T4 44.9 44.9 45.3
3
hot water = 40 g/s 1 2 average
T1 64.9 63.9 64.4
T2 51 51 51
T3 28.4 28.5 28.45
T4 46 46.2 46.1

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Counter-current

Fix flow rate of cool water 40 g/s

hot water = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 5 average

T1 56.8 67.7 54.5 66.5 59.9 61.08
T2 40.9 39.4 40.2 39 40.4 39.98
T3 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4
T4 39.3 40 38.4 39.8 40.2 39.54
hot water = 26 g/s 1 2 3 4 average
T1 57.4 65.1 61.6 66.6 62.675
T2 40.8 41.1 41.9 41.9 41.425
T3 28.4 28.3 28.3 28.3 28.325
T4 40.1 41.5 41.6 42.3 41.375
hot water = 30 g/s 1 2 3 average
64.06666
T1 65 63.8 63.4
7
43.33333
T2 43.1 43.6 43.3
3
28.36666
T3 28.3 28.4 28.4
7
T4 43.4 43.6 43.2 43.4
hot water = 36 g/s 1 2 average
T1 63.2 63.1 63.15
T2 44.5 44.5 44.5
T3 28.4 28.4 28.4
T4 44.3 44.4 44.35
hot water = 40 g/s 1
T1 62.1
T2 45.2
T3 28.4
T4 45

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Fix flow rate of cool water 30 g/s

hot water = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 5 6 average

59.13333
T1 55.1 63 60.2 67.6 54.6 54.3
3
41.58333
T2 42.5 41.8 40.2 40.5 42.3 42.2
3
T3 28.3 28.3 28.3 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.35
41.38333
T4 42 42.8 39.7 41.6 41.2 41
3
hot water = 26 g/s 1 2 3 average
64.36666
T1 64.6 64.1 64.4
7
44.63333
T2 44.7 44.7 44.5
3
T3 28.5 28.5 28.5 28.5
45.13333
T4 45.3 45 45.1
3
hot water = 30 g/s 1 2 average
T1 64.9 64.6 64.75
T2 46.1 46 46.05
T3 28.5 28.5 28.5
T4 46.7 46.5 46.6
hot water = 36 g/s 1 2 average
T1 64 64.2 64.1
T2 48 48.1 48.05
T3 28.6 28.5 28.55
T4 48.2 48.2 48.2
hot water = 40 g/s 1 2 3 average
64.53333
T1 64.4 64.7 64.5
3
48.96666
T2 48.8 49.1 49
7
28.56666
T3 28.5 28.6 28.6
7
T4 48.8 49.1 49.1 49

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Result:

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Page | 16


Page | 17
Discussion:

This experiment allows the study about double pipe heat exchanger. In this case, it

involved studying one fluid flows through the inside pipe, and the second fluid flows through

the annular space between the outside and the inside pipe where fouling is ignored. From the

result, it is found that counter current flow have overall heat transfer coefficient higher than

co-current in every flow rate. When considering only co-current, the overall heat transfer

coefficient of cool water that have fixed flow rate at 30 g/s is higher than at 40 g/s and both

2
having the same heat transfer coefficient of the outer shell of -383.593 W/ m K . But, in

counter current flow, it is found that the overall heat transfer coefficient increases with the

increase flow rate of cool water that is fixed and the heat transfer coefficient of the outer shell

2
is the same as co-current at -383.593 W/ m K . Moreover, when considering only flow rate

of hot water, it is found that overall heat transfer coefficient and heat transfer coefficient

inside the pipe increase with the flow rate of hot water.

Page | 18
Conclusion:

From the experiment, it is found that counter current flow is a more efficient flow

pattern than co-current because it has higher overall heat transfer coefficient for the double

pipe heat exchanger. The heat transfer coefficients increase with the flow rate of hot water

because increasing the hot water flow rate, the amount of energy, which is carried by hot

water increases as well. This provides more energy to be transferred which give rise to

overall heat transfer coefficient. For co-current flow, it is reverse variation with the flow rate

of cold water as when the flow rate of cool water increases, the heat transfer coefficient is

decreases. For counter current flow, it is found that overall heat transfer coefficient increases

with flow rate of cool water. In addition, from the First Law of thermodynamics, it requires

that the rate of heat transfer from the hot fluid be equal to the rate of heat transfer to the cool

one. But in practice its not the same because in this experiment the model is not a steady-

flow devices. The mass flow rate of water is not constant because during the experiment the

water stopped flowing momentarily. Moreover, from the experiment data, the properties such

as temperature and velocity at any inlet or outlet not remain the same that cause kinetic and

potential change. Lastly, the outer surface of the heat exchange is not perfectly insulated, so,

heat loss to the surrounding can occur.

Page | 19
Improvement:

As all of the measurement of temperatures are made with the machine of the

experimental set, it is assumed to be accurate and has no possibility of being affected by

human error. However, water flow rates are read on analog scale, this could involve some

error from humans perception. Doing more trials and getting the average was done to obtain

more accurate data already, so very few improvement could be done here in this experiment.

Appendix:

Inner Tube Copper Unit

wall thickness 0.001 m
Outer Tube steel
wall thickness 0.001 m
Inner diameter 16.15 mm
Outer diameter 22.075 mm
length 166 cm

W
Assumption: Thermal conductivity of copper at 25 degree Celsius remains constant. (401 mK )

kJ
Heat capacity of water at 25 degree Celsius remains constant. (4.18 kgK )

g
Density of water at 25 degree Celsius remains constant. (0.989 cm3 )

Viscosity of water at 25 degree Celsius remains constant. (0.00089 Pas)

Cocurren
t
Fix cool 40 g/s

hot = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 avg

1 65.1 54.9 67.5 54.8 60.575
2 42.7 43 41.3 42.9 42.475
3 28.3 28.3 28.3 28.4 28.325
4 39.1 37.4 38.1 37.4 38

1. T ln

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 T 1
ln
T 2( )
; T 1=H C , T 2=H out C out

T 1 T 2
T ln =

2. Heat transfer rate

Qhot =flow hot Cp hot ( T hot ,out ) =20 ( gs ) 4.18 ( gKJ ) ( 60.57542.475)( K )=1513.16 Js

Qc =flow c Cphot ( T c , out )=40 ( gs ) 4.18 ( gKJ ) ( 3828.325 )( K )=1617.66 Js

1513.16+1617.66 J
Qavg= =1565.41
2 s

3. Overall heat transfer coefficient (U)

Q avg 1565.41 W
U i= = =1321.942 2
AT ln 0.01615 m
2 1.66 14.06
2

4. Volumetric flow rate

g
20 3 3
m
s cm m
V i= = =20.222 =2.022 ( E5 )
g s s
0.989 3
cm
2.022 4 105 m
velocity= 2
=0.099
3.14 0.01615 s

5. Re

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 kg
3
mm1
m
D v 989 0.01615 0.099 s
= = =1776.7
viscosity 0.00089 kg
ms

6. Heat transfer coefficient with liquid inside tube

1 1 Di Di
hi=a V i ; Turbulent flow, a = slope of = 0.8
+( + )
Ui aVi k D av h o D o

7. Heat transfer coefficient with liquid outside tube

(
1/ho = y intercepet ( ))( )
Di
k D av
Do
Di ; D av =(D i+ D 0 )/2

Countercurrent
Fix cool 40 g/s

hot = 20 g/s 1 2 3 4 5 avg

1 56.8 67.7 54.5 66.5 59.9 61.08
2 40.9 39.4 40.2 39 40.4 39.98
3 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4 28.4
4 39.3 40 38.4 39.8 40.2 39.54

1. T ln

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 T 1
ln
T 2( )
; T 1=H C , T 2=H out C out

T 1 T 2
T ln =

2. Heat transfer rate

Qhot =flow hot Cp hot ( T hot ,out ) =20 ( gs ) 4.18 ( gKJ ) ( 61.0839.98 )( K )=1763.96 Js

Qc =flow c Cphot ( T c , out )=40 ( gs ) 4.18 ( gKJ ) ( 39.5428.4) ( K )=1839.2 Js

1763.96+1839.2 J
Qavg= =1801.58
2 s

3. Overall heat transfer coefficient (U)

Q avg 1801.58 W
U i= = =1332.75 2
AT ln 0.01615 m
2 1.66 16.05
2

4. Volumetric flow rate

g
20 3 3
m
s cm m
V i= = =20.222 =2.022 ( E5 )
g s s
0.989 3
cm
2.022 4 105 m
velocity= 2
=0.099
3.14 0.01615 s

5. Re

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 kg
3
mm1
m
D v 989 0.01615 0.099 s
= = =1776.7
viscosity 0.00089 kg
ms

6. Heat transfer coefficient with liquid inside tube

1 1 Di Di
hi=a V i ; Turbulent flow, a = slope of = 0.8
+( + )
Ui aVi k D av h o D o

7. Heat transfer coefficient with liquid outside tube

(
1/ho = y intercepet ( ))( )
Di
k D av
Do
Di ; D av =(D i+ D 0 )/2

Page | 24
References:

1. AE 381 Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1 2/2010 Book, Department of Chemical

Engineering Thammasat University.
2. Jcequipments.com. "Double Pipe Heat Exchanger, Double Pipe Heat Exchanger
Manufacturers India." Heat Exchangers India. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.jcequipments.com/double-pipe-heat-exchanger.html>.
3. Dusane, Shriram. "In Counter Flow Heat Exchanger Inlet and Outlet Temperatures of
Hot and Cold Stream Are Given, Then What Are the Exit Temperatures in Parallel
Flow?"Quora. N.p., 14 Feb. 2017. Web. 2 Apr. 2017. <https://www.quora.com/In-
counter-flow-heat-exchanger-inlet-and-outlet-temperatures-of-hot-and-cold-stream-
are-given-then-what-are-the-exit-temperatures-in-parallel-flow>.
4. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C and Harriott, P. Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,
7th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2005.

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