Heat Exchanger Performance Evaluation: Flow Rate and Configuration

This report details an experiment investigating heat exchangers, focusing on the effects of parallel and counter flow configurations and the impact of varying flow rates on performance. The experiment uses a shell and tube heat exchanger to analyze heat transfer, measuring parameters such as overall heat transfer coefficient, efficiency, heat loss, and temperature changes in both hot and cold water flows. Computer-based estimations aided in data collection and analysis. The study compares the efficiency of counter and parallel flow conditions, examining the relationship between cold water flow rate, temperature differentials (ΔThot and ΔTcold), and overall design efficiency, with the aim of developing a performance evaluation criteria for heat exchangers.

Abstract
This experiment investigates the heat exhangers and their effects of parrellel an counter
flow when investigating the heat exchanger performance. Additionally the experiment
studies the effects of flow rate for the heat exchanger performance.
Introduction & Background
Heat exchanger can be define as a tool system where the heat achange occurs between fluid
flow, which are separated by pipe wall of a thermal conductimng surface. The funcrtioning
of heat exhangers depends on heat flow between the hot and cold media through
concvection process. There major main designs of heat echanger include the “Tubular heat
exchangers”, “Shell & Tube”, and “Plate” heat exchangers. The heat exchangers have their
main appliocation in factories where chemical reactions involves heating and cooling.
Laboratory test procedure
The shell and tubve heat exchangers are the main heat echangers which are applied in this
laboratory class. The major method which will be used for analysis in other heat exhangers
are similar to those applied in Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers. This document also includes
key tabular and plate heat exchanger sketches. Nevertheless, it is nor a must for the student
to include them. Tests will; be acarried out inj bioth the concurrent (parrallel flow) and the
counter current (counter flow) flow conditions. In each of the flow conditions, tests will be
carried out for the counter and parallel frlow conditions. Also, for each of the conditi9ons,
the following wikll be carried out;
1. setting the temoperature controller in order to have the hot water being fixedvalue
of 500
2. the flow of hot water will be adjusted to 1.5 litre/min
3. cold water control valve will be set in order to provide cold water at a flow rate of
0.5 litre/min
4. the temoperatures will then be allowed to tabiulize. Once stable, values of Tcold,in,
Tcold,out, Thot,in, Thot,out, and hot and cold flow rates will be recorded.
5. Lastly, the cold water valve will be adjusted to 1-2 litres/min, having an increament
of 0.5 and then repeating procedure number 4.
Objectives
The major objective of this experiment is to analyzen the integration part of the effects as
well as good design through building of a heat exchanger performance evaluation criteria
(PEC). The build up of the system level will help in analysis of full effect of heat exchanger
design. Also, the experiment presents an energy balance of both shell and tube exchanger
when both flow conditions are applied. The experiment alsdo presents overall coefficient of
heat transfer for both the shell and tube exchangers. The results in this section will present
examination iof results for the flow raten efficiency and overall heat transfer coefficient U.
Conclusions
The report involves measuring of the overall heat transfer coefficient, overall efficiency,
heat loss, heat flow rate, mass flow and the different temperature for flow in hot and cold
water situations. The heat exchanger are some of important parts for the built up in

conditions of heat transfer and increased efficiency level. Additionally, computer was used
to estimaten the heat exchanger for production of steady results as well as direct collection
data for the tools in sheel and tube exchangers. Lastly, comnments were also made in
changes in ΔThot and ΔTcolt when increase of flow rate of cold water in increased. Also,
explanation on heat transfer coefficient and the efficiency are also calculated. The
calculations are related to the effects of cold water flow rate and the overall efficiency of
designs in terms of graphs. Lastly, comparison of overall efficiency of both counter and
parallel flow conditions for the heat exchangers was done using diagram.