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Preliminary Heat Exchanger Design Example

written by: Harlan Bengtson edited by: Lamar Stonecypher updated: 8/17/2011
Design of heat exchangers is an iterative process, using the heat exchanger design equation to estimate the needed
heat transfer area, based on an estimate of the overall heat transfer coefficient, specified heat load, and log mean
temperature difference (from inlet and outlet temperatures).

Introduction - The Heat Exchanger Design Equation


The basic heat exchanger design equation,
Q = U A Tlm,
was introduced and discussed in another article, "Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Theory and Design." When used
as a design equation to calculate the required heat transfer surface area, the equation can be rearranged to become:
A = Q/(U Tlm),
where Q is the required heat transfer rate in Btu/hr, U is the overall heat transfer coefficient in Btu/hr-oF, and tlm is the
log mean temperature difference in oF.

The Overall Heat Exchanger Design Process


Design of heat exchangers is an iterative (trial & error) process. Here is a set of steps for the process

1.

2.
3.

4.

Calculate the required heat transfer rate, Q, in Btu/hr from specified information about fluid flow
rates and temperatures. (See more details in the next two sections.)
Make an initial estimate of the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, based on the fluids involved.
Calculate the log mean temperature difference, Tlm, from the inlet and outlet temperatures of the
two fluids. (See more details in the next two sections.)
Calculate the estimated heat transfer area required, using: A = Q/(U Tlm).

5.

Select a preliminary heat exchanger configuration.

6.

Make a more detailed estimate of the overall heat transfer coefficient, U, based on the preliminary
heat exchanger configuration.

7.

Estimate the pressure drop across the heat exchanger. If it is too high, revise the heat exhcanger
configuration until the pressure drop is acceptable.

8.

If the new estimate of U is significantly different than the previous estimate, repeat steps 4 through
7 as many times as necessary until the two estimates are the same to the desired degree of accuracy.

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Input Information Needed


In order to start the heat exchanger design process, several items of information are needed as follows:
1.

The two fluids involved need to be identified.

2.

The heat capacity of each fluid is needed.

3.

The required initial and final temperatures for one of the fluids are needed.

4.

The design value of the initial temperature for the other fluid is needed.

5.

An initial estimate for the value of the Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient, U, is needed.

Knowing the first four items allows determination of the required heat transfer rate, Q,
and the inlet and outlet temperatures of both fluids, thus allowing calculation of the log mean temperature difference,
Tlm. With values now available for Q, U, and Tlm, an initial estimate for the required heat transfer area can be
calculated from the equation,
A = Q/(U Tlm).

Example Calculations
Example #1: Calculate a preliminary estimate of the heat exchanger area needed to cool 55,000 lb/hr of a light oil
(specific heat = 0.74 Btu/lb-oF) from 190oF to 140oF using cooling water that is available at 50oF. The cooling water can
be allowed to heat to 90oF. An initial estimate of the overall heat transfer coefficient is 120 Btu/hr-ft2-oF. Also estimate
the required mass flow rate of cooling water.
Solution: First calculate the required heat transfer rate based on the required light oil cooling:
Q = (55,000 lb/hr)(0.74 Btu/lb-oF)(190 140)oF = 2,035,000 Btu/hr.
Next calculate the log mean temperature difference:
Tlm = [(190 90) (140 50)]/ln[(190 90)/(140 50)] = 94.9oF
The preliminary area estimate can now be calculated as:
A = Q/(U Tlm) = 2,035,000/(120)(79.58) = 178.7 ft2 = A
The required mass flow rate of water can be calculated from Q = m Cp T.
Rearranging: m = Q/Cp T = (2,035,000 Btu/hr)/(1 Btu/lb-oF)(40oF) = 50,875 lb/hr
Example #2: A shell and tube heat exchanger is to be used for the light oil cooling described in Example #1. How
many tubes of 3 inch diameter and 10 ft length should be used?
Solution: The surface area per tube will be DL = (3/12)(10) ft2 = 7.854 ft2. The number of tubes required would
thus be:
n = 178.7 ft2/7.854 ft2/tube = 22.7 tubes (round up to 23 tubes).

The next step would be to check on the pressure drop for this tube configuration and the specified flow. If the
pressure drop is acceptable, then the overall heat transfer coefficient could be re-estimated for this heat exchanger
configuration. These topics will be dealt with in a future article.

Summary
Calculations for preliminary design of heat exchangers are illustrated through the examples in this article. The basic
heat exchanger design equation is the centerpiece of the process and uses the overall heat transfer coefficient and
log mean temperature difference in the calculations.
For downloadable Excel spreadsheet templates to make preliminary shell and tube and double pipe heat exchanger
design calculations, see the article, "Excel Spreadsheet Templates for Preliminary Heat Exchanger Design
Calculations."

References and Image Credits


References for Further Information:
1.Bengtson, H., Fundamentals of Heat Exchangers, an online, continuing education course for PDH credit.
2. Bengtson, H., Excel Spreadsheets for Preliminary Heat Exchanger Design.
2. Kuppan, T., Heat Exchanger Design Handbook, CRC Press, 2000.
3. Kakac, S. and Liu, H., Heat Exchangers: Selection, Rating and Thermal Design, CRC Press, 2002.

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