HEAT TRANSFER IN A DOUBLE PIPE EXCHANGER

BEA ALEXA SOJOR

Department of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering and Architecture
Cebu Institute of Technology – University
N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Abstract

Heat transfer is one of the most essential unit operations in the process industry. In many cases
of industrial importance, heat is transferred from one fluid, through a solid wall, to another fluid.
The transfer occurs in a heat exchanger and one of the most common equipment for this purpose
is the double pipe heat exchanger. In this experiment, the overall heat transfer coefficient (U)
for a particular double pipe heat exchanger was determined. It was found out that the overall
heat transfer coefficient for both flow arrangement is similar (4516.80 and 4745.71 W/m2K,
respectively) with an average value of 4631.25 W/m2K. Through the determination of this
value, the double pipe heat exchanger was characterized and can be used for efficient cooling
and heating purposes.
I. Introduction

Heat transfer is one of the most essential unit operations in the process industry.
This process involves the transfer of energy in the form of heat from one body to the
other with temperature difference as driving force.
There are three different modes of heat transfer namely conduction, convection and
radiation. All three may act individually or at the same time. Conduction is the transfer
of energy between adjacent particles of matter. It is a local phenomenon and can only
occur through matter. The heat flux due to conduction is mathematically expressed by
Fourier’s Law (Equation 1).

𝑑𝑇
𝑄 = −𝑘𝐴 𝑑𝑋 [1]

Where Q is the rate of heat transfer (W), k is the thermal conductivity (W/mK), A is
the area perpendicular to the x direction and T is the temperature (K).
On the other hand, radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic radiation.
Radiation can act at a distance through transparent media and vacuum. Heat transfer
through this mechanism usually occurs at high temperatures (T > 400oC) and depends
on the surface emissivity.
Convection is the transfer of energy by conduction and radiation in moving, fluid
media. A key step in calculating the rate of heat transfer by convection is the calculation
of the heat transfer coefficient. There are two type of convective heat transfer: (1)
forced and (2) natural convection. In forced convection, heat is transferred from a
flowing fluid driven by an external force such as pumps. This is the most common
mode in the process industries. Natural convection occurs when a fluid is in contact
with a solid surface of different temperatures. Temperature difference create the density
gradients that drive natural or free convection.
In many cases of industrial importance, heat is transferred from one fluid, through
a solid wall, to another fluid. The transfer occurs in a heat exchanger and one of the
most common equipment for this purpose is the double pipe heat exchanger. In this
equipment, a certain liquid (hot or cold) travels through a pipe together with another
 liquid travelling through the annular area. The two fluids may travel co-currently
(parallel) or counter-currently depending on the heating and cooling requirements.
One of the main focus in chemical engineering is the design of heat exchangers to
facilitate heat transfer. The basic design equation for a heat exchanger is

𝑄 = 𝑈𝐴∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 [2]

Where Q is the amount of heat transferred with time, U is the overall heat transfer
coefficient, A is the surface area of transfer of the heat exchanger and ∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 is the log
mean temperature difference.
In this experiment, the overall coefficient of heat transfer using steam to water in
forced convection was determined.

II. Materials and Methods

Equipment
Concentric – pipe heat exchanger
Thermometers
Platform balance
Stopwatch

Materials
Water
Steam
Weighing pails

Method
The length of the heating section of the double pipe heat exchanger was first measured.
The area of the heating surface was also calculated from this data. The assembly and
the method of operation was familiarized, and the valves were set to countercurrent
flow. The equipment was then operated.
After the conditions of flow and temperature have become constant, the following
readings were recorded at 2-minute intervals:
a. Time
b. Inlet and exit temperatures of the steam and cold-water streams.
c. Water meter readings.
d. Weight of discharge.

The same procedure was repeated using different rates of flow. Each run lasted for
approximately 20 minutes.

The experiment was repeated using parallel flow mechanism.

III. Results

120

100
Hot Water Inlet
80
Temperature (oC)

Cold Water Outlet

60
Hot Water Outlet
40

20 Cold Water Inlet

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Position

Figure 1. Countercurrent flow temperature profile.

120

100 Hot Water Inlet

80 Hot Water Outlet

Temperature (oC)

Cold Water Outlet

60

40

Cold Water Inlet

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Figure 2. Parallel flow temperature profile.

 Table 1. Calculated overall heat transfer coefficient.
Overall Heat
Transfer Average U
Flow Regime % Difference
Coefficient, U (W/ m2K)
(W/ m2K)
Countercurrent 4516.80
4.82 4631.25
Parallel 4745.71

IV. Discussion

Temperature Profiles
Presented in Figures 1 and 2 are the temperature profile of the double-pipe heat
exchanger for countercurrent and parallel flow, respectively. Temperature profiles are
essential for heat exchangers in order to analyze heat transfer behavior. As seen from
the Figures, the maximum temperature difference (66.5oC) is obtained from the parallel
flow regime as well as the lowest (5.33oC). On the other hand, the countercurrent flow
regime has a temperature difference which is approximately constant with position
(inlet = 31.67oC and outlet = 22.5oC). Heat transfer is driven by temperature difference;
hence it can be said the countercurrent flow offers a more uniform distribution of heat
as compared to the parallel flow regime.

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Presented in Table 1 are the calculated overall heat transfer coefficients for both
flow regime with a value of 4516.80 and 4735.7 W/ m2K for countercurrent and
parallel flow, respectively. The overall heat transfer coefficient represents the total
resistance to heat transfer from one fluid to another and is a function of the flow
geometry, fluid properties and material composition of the heat exchanger.
Mathematically, it is expressed through equation 1.

𝑄 = 𝑈𝐴∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 [1]

Where Q is the amount of heat transferred with time, U is the overall heat transfer
coefficient, A is the surface area of transfer of the heat exchanger and ∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 is the log
mean temperature difference. Since all of these factors are constant for both flow
 regimes, the overall heat transfer coefficient for both flows should be similar. The
results for both regime is more or less similar with a percent difference of 4.82% and
an average of 4631.25 W/m2K.

V. Conclusion

In this experiment, the mechanism of convective heat transfer was studied through
a double pipe heat exchanger. Particularly, the overall heat transfer coefficient (U),
which quantifies the resistances during heat transfer, was determined. In the
experiment, it was found out the U has an average value of 4631.25 W/m2K. Through
the determination of this value, the double pipe heat exchanger was characterized and
can be used for efficient cooling and heating purposes.