Question

A counter-flow double pipe heat exchanger is heat heat water from 20 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius at the rate of 1.2 kg/s. The heating is to be accomplished by geothermal water available at 160 degrees Celsius at a mass flow rate of 2 kg/s. The inner tube is thin-walled and has a diameter of 1.5 cm. if the overall heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger is 649 W/m2K, determine the length of the heat exchanger required to achieve the desired heating.

Answer 1

Answer:

$L=107.6m$

Explanation:

Cold water in: $m_{c}=1.2kg/s, C_{c}=4.18kJ/kg\°C, T_{c,in}=20\°C, T_{c,out}=80\°C$

Hot water in: $m_{h}=2kg/s, C_{h}=4.18kJ/kg\°C, T_{h,in}=160\°C, T_{h,out}=?\°C$

$D=1.5cm=0.015m, U=649W/m^{2}K, LMTD=?\°C, A_{s}=?m^{2},L=?m$

Step 1: Determine the rate of heat transfer in the heat exchanger

$Q=m_{c}C_{c}(T_{c,out}-T_{c,in})$

$Q=1.2*4.18*(80-20)$

$Q=1.2*4.18*(80-20)$

$Q=300.96kW$

Step 2: Determine outlet temperature of hot water

$Q=m_{h}C_{h}(T_{h,in}-T_{h,out})$

$300.96=2*4.18*(160-T_{h,out})$

$T_{h,out}=124\°C$

Step 3: Determine the Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD)

$dT_{1}=T_{h,in}-T_{c,out}$

$dT_{1}=160-80$

$dT_{1}=80\°C$

$dT_{2}=T_{h,out}-T_{c,in}$

$dT_{2}=124-20$

$dT_{2}=104\°C$

$LMTD = \frac{dT_{2}-dT_{1}}{ln(\frac{dT_{2}}{dT_{1}})}$

$LMTD = \frac{104-80}{ln(\frac{104}{80})}$

$LMTD = \frac{24}{ln(1.3)}$

$LMTD = 91.48\°C$

Step 4: Determine required surface area of heat exchanger

$Q=UA_{s}LMTD$

$300.96*10^{3}=649*A_{s}*91.48$

$A_{s}=5.07m^{2}$

Step 5: Determine length of heat exchanger

$A_{s}=piDL$

$5.07=pi*0.015*L$

$L=107.57m$