AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

FABRICATION AND DESIGN OF SPIRAL

TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER
Dr.B.jayachandriah1, M. Uday kumar 2
,R.Jagaesh 3T.M Vamsi krisha 4

1. Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Vice –principal Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology,

Srikalahasti, Chittor Dt, A.P
2. Final B.Tech Students Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology, Srikalahasti, Chittor Dt, A.P
3. Final B.Tech Students Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology, Srikalahasti, Chittor Dt, A.P
4. Final B.Tech Students Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology, Srikalahasti, Chittor Dt, A.P
bjcskit2011@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Spiral tube Heat exchangers is a helically coiled heat exchanger, A helically coil-tube heat exchanger is generally
applied in industrial applications due to its compact structure, larger heat transfer area and higher heat transfer
capability, etc.
An attempt is made in this paper is that the Fabrication of spiral coil heat exchanger is done by taking the outer
diameter of the shell as 159.16 mm and inner diameter of the shell is 116 mm ,outer diameter of the tube is 9.21 mm
and inner diameter of tube is 8.91 mm, the coil pitch is taken as 24.11 mm, number of coil turns is taken is 14 and
shell material is steel ,tube material as copper and assembled ,then the experiment is done by varying the mass flow
rate of cold water and mass flow rate of hot water kept constant for first time and by varying the mass flow rate of
hot water and mass flow rate of cold water kept constant then the values of effectiveness and LMTD are evaluated.

KEY WORDS
Spiral coil Heat Exchanger, effectiveness, Thermocouples

1. INTRODUCTION essentially the transfer of heat via tnrasfer. Thermal

Heat transfer is a discipline of thermal engineering
that concerns the generation, use, conversion, and
exchange of thermal energy and heat between
physical systems. Heat transfer is classified into
various mechanisms, such as thermal conduction,
thermal convection, thermal radiation, and transfer of
energy by phase changes
1.2.Modes Of Heat Transfer:
On a microscopic scale, heat conduction occurs as
hot, rapidly moving or vibrating atoms and molecules
interact with neighboring atoms and molecules,
transferring some of their energy (heat) to these
neighboring particles. In other words, heat is
transferred by conduction when adjacent atoms
vibrate against one another, or as electrons move
from one atom to another. Convective-, or
convection, is the transfer of heat from one place to
another by the movement of fluids, a process that is
radiation is electromagnetic radiation generated by
the thermal motion of charged particles in matter.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Ali1 et al has studied the natural convection heat
transfer from helical coils and obtained average
outside heat transfer coefficients for turbulent heat
transfer from the vertical helical coils submersed in
water. In their experiments water was pumped
through the coil. Churchill2 et al has studied the fully
developed laminar convection in helical coils
.Reviewing and employing previously published work
of other authors ,they developed new correlations of
friction factor and the Nusselt number in helical coiled
tubes with constant wall heat flux and constant wall
temperature. Kumar3 et al (2006) have studied the
pressure drop and heat transfer in tube helical heat
exchanger. However, the flow pattern is entirely
different in the helically coiled tube heat exchanger
than for a double pipe heat exchanger. Jayakumar4 et

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 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
el (1997) have investigated the performance of the
residual heat removal system, which uses a helically
coiled heat exchanger, for various process
parameters.. Deshpande P.M5 ea al have studied
horizontal spiral coil tube (HSTC) for various forces
(viscous, buoyancy and centrifugal force) acting on
fluid element in coil; of which the centrifugal force is
predominant and results in secondary flow. This
phenomenon also depends on the physical properties
of fluid at a given temperature. They also concluded
that as the coil diameter reduces the curvature ratio
increase that increases the pressure drop.
3. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
3.1 The following parts are assembling in
this experimental setup.
(i) Shell: The shell is constructed either from pipe or
rolled and welded plate metal. For reasons of
economy, low carbon steel is in common use, but
other materials suitable for extreme temperature or
corrosion resistance often are specified. Using
commonly available shell pipe to 24” dia. Results in
reduced cost and ease of manufacturing, partly
because they generally are more perfectly round than
rolled and welded shells.
(ii) Spiral coil: Spiral coil designs can be an effective
use of space in heat transfer applications. Convection
can be improved by switching from an inferior
material such as aluminum or stainless steel (though
CTCG makes tubing coils out of these materials as
well) and adopting a spiral coil design. Finned tubing
(though more difficult to manipulate) can add an
even further benefit by maximizing the tube's
exposure to air and thereby removing more heat.
(iii) Thermocouple: It is a temperature-measuring
device consisting of two dissimilar conductors that
contact each other at one or more spots. It produces
a voltage when the temperature of one of the spots
differs from the reference temperature at other parts
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of the circuit. in this paper j type thermo couples are
used.
(iv) Digital temperature indicator: Is a device or
smart label that shows the accumulated time-
temperature history of a product. Time temperature
indicators are commonly used
on food, pharmaceutical, and medical products to
indicate exposure to excessive temperature (and time
at temperature).
(v) Connecting pipes: Four pipes are connected for
hot water inlet, hot water outlet, cold water inlet, and
cold water outlets.
(vi) Water heat pipes: Water heater is used for
heating the cold water to a desired temperature and
for controlling the temperature a thermostat is fixed.
Here the water 3KW, instant type This water heater
outlet is connected to the hot water inlet of heat
exchanger
3.2. Assemly
Shell was prepared in lathe with deferent operations
as per dimensions. in the shell two holes drilled for
inlet and outlet flowing of water. Two nipples were
welded in holes for connecting pipes. Two flange
plates were prepared as per dimensions using gas
cutting operations. Two nipples also welded for
connecting hot water inlet and outlet pipes. Copper
tube is wounded 14 turns. Copper helical coil is
inserted on to the shaft part. And finally all parts
were assembled with help of nuts and bolts to make
the shell air tight without water leaking. J-Type
Thermocouples were attached at inlet and outlet
connecting pipes for knowing inlet and outlet
temperature of cold and hot water. The insulating
rope is wound to heat exchanger for reducing for heat
dissipating. Thermocouples were attached to digital
temperature indicator. This digital temperature
indicator is fixed in the panel board. Heat exchanger
if fixed near to panel board.
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 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

FiG:1 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

4. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

4.1. Experimental Procedure

Cold water inlet is connected to the water tank supply and hot water inlet is connected to the electric heater .Switch
on the heater from electric power supply. Cold water is send to the shell side, and hot water is supplied through tube
side. Thermocouples were connected for knowing the inlet and outlet temperatures of cold water and hot water. Now
take the temperature readings by varying mass flow rate of cold water by keeping the constant hot water flow rate
for one time. Next keeping the constant cold water mass flow rate and by varying the mass flow rate of hot water
taken the temperature readings. Now effectiveness is calculated for different mass flow rates.

4.2.Tabular Column
At Constant Mass Flow Rate For Hot Fluid and Different Mass Flow Rate in Cold Fluid
Mh Mc Th1 Th2 Tc1 Tc2 Ch Cc Cmin Qmax Qact LMTD ∈=
0.333 0.0416 51 38 30 40 139.2 174.7 139.29 2785.8 1810.7 7.958 0.644
0.333 0.025 49 38 31 34 139.29 105 105 1995 1532.19 10.43 0.768
0.333 0.0208 50 40 31 38 139.29 87.36 87.36 1659.84 1392.9 11.13 0.8391
0.33 0.020 50 39 31 35 139.2 85.6 85.65 1713 1532 11.74 0.894

4.3. Tabular Column

At constant mass flow rate for cold fluid and different mass flow rate in hot fluid
Mh MC Th1 Th2 Tc1 Tc2 Ch Cc Cmin Qmax Qact LMTD ∈=

0.05 0.0333 43 38 30 36 209.15 139.29 139.29 1818.18 1045.75 7.48 0.5752

0.045 0.0333 45 38 30 37 188.235 139.29 139.29 2097.9 1317.645 7.48 0.628
0.038 0.0333 46 37 30 38 168.954 139.29 139.29 2231.76 1430.58 8.49 0.6393
0.03 0.0333 52 37 30 36 125.49 139.29 125.49 2760.76 1822 10.8 0.6818

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Specimen Calculations

I. Length of coil needed (L) = × (2 ) +

L =14× (2 × [125.16 × 10 ]) + (27.14 × 10 )
L = 11 meters
II. Volume available for fluid flow in quantity:-
Vf = × [ × ]− × × × − × ×
= 2.25× 10
III. Reynolds number
×
NRe = µℎ
At 510 C dynamic viscosity (µhw ) = 0.000538 kg/sec
. × × .
NRe =
.
IV. overall heat transfer co efficient :-

U=1/ ( + + )
. ×
U=1/ ( + + )
.

= 52.35w/m2k
V. logarithmic mean temperature difference:-
( )~( )
= ( )
( )

) ( )
= ( )
( )
= 7.95810 C

VI. Effectiveness ∈=
=1810.77/2785.5
= 0.644 (No units)

5. CONCLUSION & FUTURE WORK 6. REFERENCES

By varying the mass flow rates the effectiveness is [1] Ali me. Experimental investigation of natural
calculated and the conclusion from the result is by convection from vertical helical coiled tubes.
increasing the mass flow rate of cold water and hot International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
water the effectiveness is reducing but the effect of 1994; 37:665–671.
mass flow rate of hot water reduces the effectiveness [2] Churchill SW. Fully developed laminar
Rate of heat transfer can be improved by varying the convection from a helically coil. Chemical
tube diameter, length and no of tubes. Engineering Communication 1981; 9:185–200
a. By changing the pitch lay out rate of heat [3] Kumar, V., Saini, S., Sharma, M. and Nigam,
transfer can be improved. K.D.P. Pressure drop and heat transfer in tube
b. By changing the temperature of tubes and in tube helical heat exchanger. Chem. Eng Sci,
medium rate of heat transfer can be 61 (2006): 440-4416.
improved. [4] Jayakumar, J. et al V.H. Response of a two
c. By changing the materials of tubes heat phase system subject to oscillations induced by
transfer rate can be improved. the motion of its support structure. Int Comm
Heat Mass Transf, 29 (2002): 519–530.

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[5] M.Deshpande., et,. al., “Study Of

Hydrodynamics Of Horizontal Spiral Coil
Tube.” International Journal of Advanced
Engineering Research and Studies, Vol. 1, Issue.
3, PP – 112 – 114, ISSN No. 2249 – 8974, Apr –
June 2012

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