PARALLEL / COUNTER FLOW

HEAT EXCHANGER
(KCHT-121)
 Foreword
Welcome to the fast growing family of K.C. product owners. We appreciate your interest in us
and thank you for buying our product.

You have chosen the finest quality product in the market which is produced using latest techniques
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Our products are easy to understand and operate. They are excellent for students who are trying to
gain practical knowledge through experiments.

However your comfort and safety are important to us, so we want you have an understanding of
proper procedure to use the equipment. For the purpose, we urge you to read and follow the step-
by-step operating instructions and safety precautions in this manual. It will ensure that your
favourite product delivers reliable, superior performance year after year.

This manual includes information for all options available on this model. Therefore, you may find
some information that does not apply to your equipment.

All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are those in effect at the time of
printing. We reserve the right to change specifications or design at any time without notice.

Customer satisfaction is our primary concern. Feel Free to contact us for any assistance. So what
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K.C. Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

 Important Information About This Manual

Reminder for Safety

Modification on Equipment:

This equipment should not be modified. Modification could affect its performance, safety or
disturbance. In addition damage or performance problems resulting from modification may not be
covered under warranties.

Precautions and Maintenance:

This is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that could cause minor or moderate personal injury
or damage to your equipment. To avoid or reduce the risk, the procedures must be followed
carefully.
1. Objective …………………………………… 1

2. Aim …………………………………… 1

3. Introduction …………………………………… 1

4. Theory …………………………………… 1

5. Description …………………………………… 2

6. Utilities Required …………………………………… 2

7. Experimental Procedure …………………………………… 3

8. Observation & Calculation …………………………………… 5

9. Nomenclature …………………………………… 8

10. Precautions & Maintenance Instructions …………………………………… 9

11. Troubleshooting …………………………………… 9

12. References …………………………………… 9

13. Block Diagram …………………………………… 10

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
(Rev. 1)
 PARALLEL FLOW/COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
1. OBJECTIVE:
To study the heat transfer phenomena in parallel / counter flow arrangements.

2. AIM:
2.1 To calculate the rate of heat transfer.

2.2 To calculate the LMTD for both parallel and counter flow arrangements.

2.3 To calculate the overall heat transfer coefficient for both parallel and counter flow
arrangements.

2.4 To compare the performance of parallel and counter flow heat exchanger.

3. INTRODUCTION:
Heat exchanger is a device in which heat is transferred from one fluid to another. The
necessity for doing this arises in a multitude of industrial applications. Common
examples of heat exchangers are the radiator of a car, the condenser at the back of a
domestic refrigerator and the steam boiler of a thermal power plant.

Heat exchangers are classified in three categories :

3.1 Transfer Type.

3.2 Storage Type.

3.3 Direct Contact Type

4. THEORY:
A transfer type of heat exchanger is one on which both fluids pass simultaneously
through the device and heat is transferred through separating walls. In practice most of
the heat exchangers used are transfer type.

The transfer type exchangers are further classified according to flow arrangement as -

4.1 Parallel flow in which fluids flow in the same direction.

4.2 Counter flow in which fluid flow in the opposite direction.

4.3 Cross flow in which they flow at right angles to each other.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 1 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 A simple example of transfer type of heat exchanger in the form of a tube type
arrangement in which one of the fluids is flowing through the inner tube and the other
through the annulus surroundings it. The heat transfer takes place across the walls of
the inner tube.

Heat transfer rate, LMTD and overall heat transfer coefficient can be calculated as
follows:

Q  M C p To  Ti 

To  Ti
Tm 
To
ln
Ti

Q
U 
A Tm

Where Q is amount of heat transfer, U is overall heat transfer coefficient and Tm is log
mean temperature difference. M, To, Ti are mass flow rate, outlet temperature and inlet
temperature respectively. To , Ti and A are outlet temperature difference, inlet

temperature difference and heat transfer area respectively.

5. DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus consists of a concentric tube heat exchanger. The hot water flows
through inner tube and cold water flows through outer tubes. Direction of cold fluid flow
can be changed from parallel or counter to hot water so that unit can be operated as
parallel or counter flow heat exchanger. For flow measurement rotameters are provided.
A magnetic drive pump is used to circulate the hot water from a recycled type water
tank, which is fitted with heaters and digital temperature controller.

6. UTILITIES REQUIRED:
6.1 Electricity supply: Single phase, 220 V AC, 50 Hz, 32 Amp MCB, with earth
connection. Earth voltage should be less than 5 volts.

6.2 Water supply: Continuous @ 5 LPM at 1 Bar.

6.3 Floor drain required.

6.4 Floor area required: 2.0 m x 0.5 m.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 2 of 10 (Rev. 1)
7. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

7.1 STARTING PROCEDURE (FOR PARALLEL MODE):

7.1.1 Close all the valves V1-V8.

7.1.2 Open the lid of hot and cold water tank, fill the tank with water and put the
lid back to its position.

7.1.3 Ensure that switches given on the panel are at OFF position.

7.1.4 Connect electric supply to the set up.

7.1.5 Set the desired water temperature in the DTC by operating the increment
or decrement and set button of DTC.

7.1.6 Open by pass valve V3 and switch ON the pump.

7.1.7 Switch ON the heater and wait till desired temperature achieves.

7.1.8 Connect the outlet (parallel mode) of cooling water to drain.

7.1.9 Open the valve V4-V5 for circulation of cold water and adjust the flow rate
by valve V1.

7.1.10 Allow hot water to flow through heat exchanger and adjust the flow rate by
valve V2-V3.

7.1.11 At steady state (constant temperature) record the temperatures & flow rate
of hot and cold water.

7.1.12 Repeat the experiment for different flow rate of hot & cold water.

7.1.13 Repeat the experiment for different bath temperature.

7.2 CLOSING PROCEDURE (FOR PARALLEL MODE):

7.2.1 When experiment is over switch OFF the heater.

7.2.2 Switch OFF the pump.

7.2.3 Stop cooling water supply by close the valve V1 & V4.

7.2.4 Drain the hot water tank by open the valve V8.

7.3 STARTING PROCEDURE (FOR COUNTER MODE):

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 3 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 7.3.1 Close all the valves V1-V8.

7.3.2 Open the lid of hot and cold water tank, fill the tank with water and put the
lid back to its position.

7.3.3 Ensure that switches given on the panel are at OFF position.

7.3.4 Connect electric supply to the set up.

7.3.5 Set the desired water temperature in the DTC by operating the increment
or decrement and set button of DTC.

7.3.6 Open by pass valve V3 and switch ON the pump.

7.3.7 Switch ON the heater and wait till desired temperature achieves.

7.3.8 Connect cooling water supply to the set up.

7.3.9 Connect the outlet (counter mode) of cooling water to drain.

7.3.10 Open the valve V6-V7 for circulation of cold water and adjust the flow rate
by valve V1.

7.3.11 Allow hot water to flow through heat exchanger and adjust the flow rate by
valve V2-V3.

7.3.12 At steady state (constant temperature) record the temperatures & flow rate
of hot and cold water.

7.3.13 Repeat the experiment for different flow rate of hot & cold water.

7.3.14 Repeat the experiment for different bath temperature.

7.4 CLOSING PROCEDURE(FOR COUNTER MODE):

7.4.1 When experiment is over switch OFF the heater.

7.4.2 Switch OFF the pump.

7.4.3 Stop cooling water supply by close the valve V1 & V6.

7.4.4 Drain the hot water tank by open the valve V8.

8. OBSERVATION & CALCULATION:

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 4 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 8.1 DATA:
Inner diameter of tube Di = 0.0095 m
Outer diameter of tube Do = 0.0127 m
Length of tube L = 1.6 m

8.2.a OBSERVATION TABLE (FOR PARALLEL MODE):

Hot water side Cold water side

Sr. No.
Fh (LPH) T1 (C) T2 (C) FC (LPH) T3 (C) T 4 (C)

8.2.b OBSERVATION TABLE (FOR COUNTER MODE):

Hot water side Cold water side

Sr. No.
Fh (LPH) T1 (C) T2 (C) FC (LPH) T3 (C) T 5 (C)

8.3.a CALCULATIONS (FOR PARALLEL MODE):

T1  T2 o
Th  ( C)
2

T3  T 4 o
Tc  ( C)
2

Find the properties of water (ρh , Cph) at temperature Th and (ρc , Cpc) at temperature Tc

from data book.

 h  ______ (kg/m3)

C ph  ______ (J/kg oC)

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 5 of 10 (Rev. 1)
  c  ______ (kg/m3)

C pc  ______ (J/kg oC)

Fh   h
Mh  (kg/sec)
3600  1000

Qh  M hC ph T1  T2  (W)

Fc   c
Mc  (kg/sec)
3600 1000

Qc  M c C pc T4  T3  (W)

Q h  Qc
Q (W)
2

T1  T1  T3 (oC)

T2  T2  T4 (oC)

T1  T2
Tm  (oC)
T1
ln
T2

Ai   Di L (m2)

Ao   Do L (m2)

Q
Ui  (W/m2 oC)
Ai Tm

Q
Uo  (W/m2 oC)
Ao Tm

CALCULATION TABLE (FOR PARALLEL MODE):

S.No Qh (W) Qc (W) Q (W) ΔTm (oC) Ui (W/m2oC) Uo (W/m2oC)

8.3.b CALCULATIONS (FOR COUNTER MODE):

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 6 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 T1  T2 o
Th  ( C)
2

T3  T5 o
Tc  ( C)
2

Find the properties of water (ρh , Cph) at temperature Th and (ρc , Cpc) at temperature Tc

from data book.

 h  ______ (kg/m3)

C ph  ______ (J/kg oC)

c  ______ (kg/m3)

C pc  ______ (J/kg oC)

Fh   h
Mh  (kg/sec)
3600 1000

Qh  M hC ph T1  T2  (W)

Fc   c
Mc  (kg/sec)
3600 1000

Qc  M c C pc T5  T3  (W)

Qh  Qc
Q (W)
2

T1  T1  T5 (oC)

T2  T2  T3 (oC)

T1  T2 o
Tm  ( C)
T1
ln
T2

Ai   Di L (m2)

Ao   Do L (m2)

Q
Ui  (W/m2 oC)
Ai Tm

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 7 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 Q
Uo  (W/m2 oC)
Ao Tm

CALCULATION TABLE (FOR COUNTER MODE):

S.No Qh (W) Qc (W) Q (W) ΔTm (oC) Ui (W/m2oC) Uo (W/m2oC)

9. NOMENCLATURE:

Nom Column Heading Units Type

Ai Inside heat transfer area m2 Calculated
2
Ao Outside heat transfer area m Calculated
o
Cpc Specific heat of cold water at mean temperature of J/kg C Calculated
cold water
Cph Specific heat of hot water at mean temperature of hot J/kg oC Calculated
water
Di Inner diameter of tube m Given
Do Outer diameter of tube m Given
Fc Flow rate of cold water LPH Measured
Fh Flow rate of hot water LPH Measured
L Length of tube m Given
Mc Mass flow rate of the cold water kg/sec Calculated
Mh Mass flow rate of the hot water kg/sec Calculated
Q Average heat transfer from the system W Calculated
Qc Heat gained by the cold water W Calculated
Qh Heat loss by the hot water W Calculated
o
T1 Inlet temperature of the hot water C Measured
o
T2 Outlet temperature of the hot water C Measured
o
T3 Inlet temperature of the cold water C Measured
o
T4 Outlet temperature of the cold water for parallel flow C Measured
o
T5 Outlet temperature of the cold water for counter flow C Measured
o
Tc Mean temperature of cold water C Calculated

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 8 of 10 (Rev. 1)
 o
Th Mean temperature of hot water C Calculated
Ui Inside overall heat transfer coefficient W/m2 oC Calculated
Uo Outside overall heat transfer coefficient W/m2 oC Calculated
c Density of cold water at mean temperature of cold kg/m3 Calculated
water
h Density of hot water at mean temperature of hot water kg/m3 Calculated
o
ΔT1 Temperature difference at inlet of hot water, C Calculated
o
ΔT2 Temperature difference at outlet of hot water, C Calculated
o
ΔTm Log mean temperature difference C Calculated

10. PRECAUTION & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

10.1 Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 200 volts and more than 230
volts.

10.2 Never switch ON mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF
switches given on the panel are at OFF position.

10.3 Operator selector switch OFF temperature indicator gently.

10.4 Always keep the apparatus free from dust.

11. TROUBLESHOOTING:
11.1 If electric panel is not showing the input on the mains light, check the main
supply.

12. REFERENCES:
12.1 Holman, J.P (2008). Heat Transfer. 9th Ed. ND: McGraw Hill. pp 525-526, 528-
531.

12.2 McCabe, Smith, Harriott (2005). Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering. 7th
Ed. NY: McGraw Hill. pp 327-329, 331-333.

12.3 Domkundwar A (2003). A Course in Heat & Mass Transfer. 6th Ed. NY: S.C
Dhanpat Rai & Co. (P) Ltd. p A.6.

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 9 of 10 (Rev. 1)
13. BLOCK DIAGRAM:

K.C. Engineers Pvt. Limited, Ambala PARALLEL FLOW / COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
Page No. 10 of 10 (Rev. 1)