MECH 437: Heat Transfer II

Summer 2020

Professor Saber

Lab # 4: Cross Flow Heat Exchanger

Experiments Conducted July 6, 2020

Report Submitted July 14, 2020

Jeremy Cummings
Eric Shaw-Stearns
Introduction
Objectives
As provided:
“The objectives of this lab are as follows: To study the construction geometry design features and
working principles of the extended area heat exchangers (cross flow heat exchanger in particular); To
measure heat duty by energy balance calculation; To determine the overall heat transfer
coefficient..”
Background
As provided:
“The methods on how to calculate values including overall heat transfer coefficient for shell and tube
heat exchanger, heat duty using energy balance, and heat duty using the LMTD method are discussed in
the lecture note. The overall heat transfer coefficient, 𝑈 % , for the extended area heat exchanger is
typically given as

Where 𝐴 % is the inside tube area, ℎ $ is the outer fluid coefficient, 𝜂 * is the efficiency of the single fin, 𝐴
* is the fin area only, 𝐴 - is the bare outer tube area, 𝑥.is the tube wall thickness, 𝑘 ' is the thermal
conductivity of the tube wall, and ℎ % is the inner fluid coefficient. It should be noted that this
expression can be rewritten by having ration of the areas as AF /Ai and Ab /Ai where these ratios can be
determined using section dimensions. 𝜂F is defined as

Where for this geometry of the cross flow heat exchanger

Where ℎ o is the air side heat transfer coefficient, 𝑘 copper is thermal conductivity of the fin, 𝑃 w is wetted
perimeter of the fin, 𝐴 1 is cross sectional area of the fin, and L is half of the fin length between tubes. “

Problem Statement
The purpose of this Lab is to generate a memorandum that covers the following:

1) A plot for temperature changes with time.

2) Calculated heat duty through experimental data for water.

3) Calculated individual heat transfer coefficient of water and find an ordinary number for the
heat transfer coefficient of the air.

4) Calculated overall heat transfer coefficient U.

Approach

In this Lab series, the approach is guided through a Lab Manual in order to assure consistent and accurate data
collection. The approach and procedure are dictated, while the analysis process is handled by the students. In
this format the approach is simple to follow the given instruction set, record the data, process the data, and
finally generate the report.
Procedure
a. All data values were generated by an Armfield Desktop Learning Module system and recorded by the students at
the time of the laboratory experiment. In this iteration, a DLM-1 Cross Flow Heat Exchanger was configured in a
counter-flow arrangement. Flow rate and temperature values are generated programmatically by the DLMx
unit.

b. Schematics:

Figure 1- https://www.brighthubengineering.com/

Figure 2- https://armfield.co.uk/

In our setup, the DLM-1 was installed in the position of the DLM-5, but the configuration was effectively identical.
c. The setup is built such that analysis of inlet and outlet temperatures of both the shell and the tubes can be measured
in real-time in the counter-flow setup. The goal is to analyze the efficacy of the configuration. Specifically, we are
interested in generating a plot of temperature change over time, calculating heat duty with gathered data for water,
calculating individual HTC of water, finding the HTC for air, and calculating the overall HTC; U.

d. In the experiment, we are utilizing the Armfield Desktop Learning Module, DLMx, as the base station for data
collection and fluid circulation. The cartridge we are using is a DLM-1, which is a Cross Flow Heat Exchanger.

e. The experiment followed the procedural process provided precisely. This process, as given:

“ 1) Turn on power for the base units.

2) Install the cross flow exchanger into the base unit filled with warm water.
3) Scroll down to display the flow rate and all temperatures on the base unit with the
cartridge.
4) Set the flow rate according to the value listed in the experimental data sheet.
5) Record flow rate and temperature readouts. “
Results
Cartridge dimensions and constants were provided by the manufacturer, as follows:
Flow Rate Held at 4.98L/min = 0.08kg/sec
Time (seconds) Tubes IN Temperature Tubes OUT Temperature
Twater, in (◦C) Twater, out (◦C)
0 41.3 29.7
20 41.1 32.1
40 41.0 32.8
60 40.9 33.3
80 40.8 33.7
100 40.7 34.0
120 40.5 34.3
140 40.4 34.5
160 40.3 34.6
180 40.1 34.8
200 40.0 34.9
220 39.9 35.0
240 39.7 35.0
260 39.6 35.1
280 39.5 35.2
300 39.4 35.2

∆T over Time
42

40

38
TEMPERATURE IN C

36

34

32

30

28
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
TIME IN SECONDS

Tubes IN Temperature Tubes OUT Temperature

Discussion
This configuration of heat exchanger is of a cross-flow water-air variant. Owing to its design, the fluid is recirculated and
considered “mixed”, whereas the air is not recirculated and is considered “unmixed.” This is predicated on the
assumption that the fluid reservoir that is the Laboratory ambient air is sufficient to negate any saturation effects over
the course of the experiment.

Calculated heat duty through experimental data for water.

For cross-flow heat exchanger configuration with Fluid 2 unmixed:

Where:
Tm,I = Fluid in (mixed) = 40.325◦C
Tm,o = Fluid out (mixed) = 34.0125◦C
Where:
nt = 12
ṁ = 0.08 kg/sec
cp = 4178 J/kg*K
A = (0.0133m* 0.0021 m* 0.11 m) nt =.000037m3
Tm,I = 40.325◦C
Tm,o = 34.0125◦C
∆Tlm = for air cooled heat exchangers, instead of LMTD, the average differential temperature between the hot process
fluid and ambient air is used, thus substitute accordingly.
∆Tair V fluid = Tm,i (40.325◦C) -Tm,o (34.0125◦C) = -6.3125◦C
3) Calculated individual heat transfer coefficient of water and find an ordinary number
for the heat transfer coefficient of the air.

For an “Ordinary Number” for the heat transfer coefficient of air:

Where:
kcopper = thermal conductivity of fin = 401 W/mK
t = fin thickness = 0.00011m
AF = Area of fin only = 0.000122m2
Tm,I = 40.325◦C
Tm,o = 34.0125◦C
Tm,I = 40.325◦C
Tsa = surrounding fluid temp (Heat Lab ambient) = 70◦F = 21.1◦C
4) Calculated overall heat transfer coefficient U.

Where:
Ai = inside tube area = 0.000024m2
ho = outer fluid coefficient = 174.687 W/m2K
𝜂F = efficiency of the single fin =
AF = Area of fin only = 0.000122m2
AB = bare outer tube area = 0.00342m2
xw = tube wall thickness = 0.13mm = 0.00013 m
km = thermal conductivity of tube wall = 401 W/mK
hi = inner fluid coefficient = 356.246401 W/m2K
wT = Tube width, outer = 13.3mm
hT = 2.1mm

and:
kcopper = thermal conductivity of fin = 401 W/mK
Pw = wetted perimeter of the fin = 0.02354m
Ax = cross-sectional area of the fin = 0.000002m2
L = half the fin length between tubes = 3.72 mm = 0.00372 m
Conclusions

We were able to quickly and efficiently collect data as a result of the systems available. Circulating fluid through a cross-
flow heat exchanger with a automatically set to run while fluid flows was simple and the data was generated
automatically. Once the data was acquired, processing was a significant task. Application of various equations and
assumptions led to a more thorough understanding of heat transfer analysis. While many steps were unintuitive, the net
resultant was right within the margin of expectation. The largest hurdles involved keeping track of myriad variables and
the numerous nomenclatures associated with each. Clarity was further gained while exploring the many processes by
which one can define and account for area in the equations.

References

Engineering ToolBox. [Online]. Available: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/. [Accessed: 10-Jul-2020]

Heat Tranfer 4th Ed. [Online]. Available: https://yjresources.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/4-3-lmtd-with-tutorial.pdf.

[Accessed: 9-Jul-2020]

Heat Transfer Tables [Online]. Available: https://www.engineersedge.com/thermodynamics/overall_heat_transfer-

table.htm. [Accessed: 11-Jul-2020]

Fin Efficiency [Online]. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/fin-efficiency.

[Accessed: 10-Jul-2020]