Home > Steam Theory > Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Steam Theory Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

1. Basics of Steam The overall heat transfer coefficient, or
Contents:
U-value, refers to how well heat is
2. Steam Heating conducted through over a series of 1. Steam vs. Hot Water
resistant mediums. Its units are the
Heating with Steam 2. Calculating the U-value
W/(m2°C) [Btu/(hr-ft2°F)].
3. Advanced Understanding
Steam Heating Mechanism
Steam vs. Hot Water
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
The following article demonstrates how to calculate and compare the U value for the heat
What is Vacuum Steam? transfer of steam and hot water through different types of mediums, including film
coefficients and the actual wall material itself.
3. Basics of Steam Traps

4. Steam Trap Selection

5. Steam Trap Problems

6. Steam Trap Management

7. Water Hammer

8. Risk Mitigation

9. Steam Quality

10. Steam Distribution

11. Condensate Recovery

12. Energy Efficiency

13. Compressed Air / Gas

14. Other Valves The overall heat transfer coefficient is influenced by the thickness and thermal
conductivity of the mediums through which heat is transferred. The larger the coefficient,
Free Float® Steam Traps the easier heat is transferred from its source to the product being heated. In a heat
for Steam Mains and exchanger, the relationship between the overall heat transfer coefficient (U) and the heat
Tracer Lines transfer rate (Q) can be demonstrated by the following equation:

Product Solutions

Success Stories where

Q = heat transfer rate, W=J/s [btu/hr]

Water Hammer: The A = heat transfer surface area, m2 [ft2]
Mechanism U = overall heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2°C) [Btu/(hr-ft2°F)]
ΔTLM = logarithmic mean temperature difference, °C [°F]

From this equation it can be seen that the U value is directly proportional to Q, the heat
transfer rate. Assuming the heat transfer surface and temperature difference remain
unchanged, the greater the U value, the greater the heat transfer rate. In other words, this
 means that for a certain heat exchanger and product, a higher U value could lead to
shorter batch times and increased production/revenue.

Calculating the U-value

Email Magazine
Several equations can be used to determine the U value, one of which is:
Discover steam engineering tips in
our bi-monthly newsletter.

Sign up now

where
2 2
h = convective heat transfer coefficient, W/(m °C) [Btu/(hr-ft °F)]
L = thickness of the wall, m [ft]
λ = thermal conductivity, W/(m°C) [Btu/(hr-ft°F)]

Heat transfer through a metal wall

In the case of creating hot water for example, heat transfer basically occurs from fluid 1
(source of heat) through a conductive solid (metal wall) to fluid 2 (water, the product
being heated). However, film resistance must also be considered. That is why the
convective heat transfer coefficient (h), sometimes referred to as the film coefficient, is
included when calculating heat transfer between a fluid and a conductive wall.

Additionally, in certain unique applications such as pharmaceutical or biotechnology

process heating, that heat transfer can occur through several layers of wall material. In
such instances, the above equation can be adapted by incorporating each layer of the
solid’s thickness (L) divided by its thermal conductivity (λ).

To facilitate example calculations below, the following values may be used as a reference
for the convective heat transfer coefficients:
Fluid Convective heat transfer coefficient (h)

Water about 1000 W/(m2 °C) [176 Btu/(hr-ft2 °F)]

Hot Water 1000 – 6000 W/(m2 °C) [176 - 1057 Btu/(hr-ft2 °F)]

Steam 6000 – 15000 W/(m2 °C) [1057 - 2641 Btu/(hr-ft2 °F)]

Example comparing effect on U of different heat sources, steam or hot water

Two carbon steel (λ = 50 W/(m °C) [28.9 Btu/(hr-ft °F)]) jacketed kettles with an inner wall
thickness of 15mm [0.049 ft] are used to heat water. One uses hot water as the heat
source, while the other uses steam. Assuming heat transfer coefficients of 1000 W/m2 °C
2 2 2
[176 Btu/(hr-ft °F)] for the water being heated, 3000 W/m °C [528 Btu/(hr-ft °F)] for hot
2 2
water, and 10000 W/m ° C [1761 Btu/(hr-ft °F)] for steam, let's calculate the U values for
both heating processes.

Carbon Steel Jacketed Kettle – Comparing Hot Water vs. Steam Heat Source
 Hot water:

Steam:

In this case, steam provides a calculated U-value improvement of 17%.

Now imagine that the same kettle transfer wall is also lined with glass 1mm [0.0033 ft]
thick (λ = 0.9 W/(m °C) [0.52 Btu/(hr-ft °F)]). Including these values into the above U-value
equation provides the following results:

Glass-Lined Jacketed Kettle – Comparing Hot Water vs. Steam Heat Source

Hot Water:

Steam:

In this case of additional resistance to conductivity, the U-value is still improved, but only
by 9%; and this demonstrates how a poor thermal conductor such as glass can greatly
interfere with heat transfer.

So for certain heat exchange equipment such as a carbon steel kettle, changing the heat
source from hot water to steam can potentially improve the U-value and heat transfer
significantly if the wall material is highly conductive. However, the same dramatic effect
is not expected in instances where a heat exchanger with several wall layers including
layers of material that are not highly conductive (such as a glass-lined kettle) is used.

Nevertheless, some processes require a certain wall material, such as glass lining, to
prevent reactivity with the product. Even so, the heat transfer rate may still be improved in
such circumstances by changing the heat source from hot water to steam to optimize
production.

Advanced Understanding
Fouling

Fouling of the wall material surface can represent an additional barrier to heat transfer.
This problem can occur on both the heating medium side and the product side for
multiple reasons. Some causes can be particle deposits on the heating side, and
excessively high or low temperatures on the product side.

For example, steam pressure is sometimes raised to create the necessary pressure to
push condensate through the outlet control valve on a level pot. However, with an
increase in pressure within the heat exchanger, steam temperature rises accordingly, and
this excessive heat can cause increased fouling on the product side. Conversely, if
condensate is allowed to accumulate within equipment, fouling can be caused on the
heating side by the debris entrained in the pooled condensate, and on the product side by
lower temperatures that cause the product to cake onto the surface when required
product viscosity is not maintained.

Fouling can be added to the above equation by including the ratio of its thickness (LF)
over its conductivity (λF), in the same manner as the glass-lining was added above, but is
typically incorporated into and expressed as a fouling factor for an exchanger that has
been “in-service”. Commonly, the calculations to compare reduction in U are for clean
versus in-service duty.

Steam Heating Mechanism What is Vacuum Steam?

Also on TLV.com

Free Float® Steam Traps for Process Use

Steam and Condensate Training Seminars
Engineering Calculator
Steam Bulletin: Archive - Email Magazine