Inquiry of selected topics on heat exchanger design
Three specific topics of heat exchanger design are discussed. First is an examination of the effect of maldistribution on the performance of an exchanger. Three different patterns of maldistribution are investigated and for each type when the overall coefficient is independent of the maldistribution (constant) and when the maldistributed fluid is the controlling resistance and, hence, is a function of the maldistribution. It is the purpose of this investigation to determine how serious the maldistribution problem can be and hopefully, develop guidelines for the designer. Second, the simple laminar flow in tube heat transfer problem was examined with the further complications of appreciable external resistance and for countercurrent flow with appreciable temperature changes in the secondary fluid. This is a complex problem theoretically and it is shown how this would be simplified by means of several simple plots. Based on an old analog solution, the possible error if one used the conventional methods of applying overall coefficients in the design of laminar flow exchangers is discussed. Third, laminar flow heat transfer in tube banks was reviewed. The fundamental problem here is how does one handle the effect of the number of tube rows in baffled exchangers. Another form of correlation is suggested but basically it was found that insufficient experimental data were available to determine the best form of correlation. Further experimental data are needed.
- Research Organization:
- E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc., Wilmington, DE
- OSTI ID:
- 6428072
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-760816-; TRN: 79-010720
- Journal Information:
- AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States), Vol. 73:164; Conference: National heat transfer conference, St. Louis, MO, USA, 8 Aug 1976
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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