PRACTICAL1: HEAT EXCHANGER

A.Notshweleka

Food Engineering Unit Operations

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the

requirements for the degree of BSc Eng

Bioresources Engineering

School of Engineering

University of KwaZulu-Natal

Pietermaritzburg

Month 2017
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................................

LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................................................

LIST OF TABLES.....................................................................................................................

1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................

2. REFERENCES...................................................................................................................

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 LIST OF FIGURES

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 LIST OF TABLES

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 1. INTRODUCTION

A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. The fluids can
be single or two phase and, depending on the exchanger type, may be separated or in direct
contact. Devices involving energy sources such as nuclear fuel pins or fired heaters are not
normally regarded as heat exchangers although many of the principles involved in their
design are the same. The flow configuration is classified as counter flow and concurrent flow.

Figure 1.1 illustrates an idealized counterflow exchanger in which two fluids flow parallel to
each other but in opposite directions. This type of flow arrangement allows largest change in
temperature of both fluids and is therefore most efficient. Where efficiency is the amount of
actual heat transferred compared with the theoretical maximum amount of heat that can be
transferred.

Figure 1.1 Countercurrent flow

In concurrent flow heat exchangers, the streams flow parallel to each other and in the same
direction as shown in Figure1.2. This is less efficient than countercurrent flow but does
provide more uniform wall temperatures.

Figure 1.2 Cocurrent flow

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1.1 OBJECTIVE

The aim of this experiment is to demonstrate indirect heating or cooling by transfer of heat
from one fluid stream to another when separated by a solid wall (fluid to fluid heat transfer).

1.2 MATERIALS

For this experiment, HT30XC Heat Exchanger Unit and HT32 unit (Plate Heat Exchanger)
are used. The HT30XC and HT32 are test devices created for use in physics and engineering
laboratories by Armfield Limited, Ringwald, Hampshire England.

1.3 METHODS

System Set-up

1. Ensure that the plate heat exchanger HT 32 is properly mounted to the HT30XC Heat
Exchanger Service Unit. Also make sure that HT30XC unit is connected to the
computer through a USB port.
2. Prime the water cylinder manually. This just requires filling up the cylinder if it is
empty or half-full.
3. Turn on the Main Power supply switch. The switch is a rocker switch located on the
lower right front of the test set. Check that the green and red LEDs are illuminated.
4. Conections for experiment. Refer to figure
 Hot Water Inlet
Connect the flexible tube from the front left hand tapping on the sliding end
plate (adjacent to sensor T1) to the quick release hot water outlet connector on
the HT30XC (front connector with red collar).
 Hot Water Return
Connect the flexible tube from the rear right hand tapping on the fixed end
plate (adjacent to sensor T2) to the quick release hot water return connector on
the HT30XC (center connector with red collar.)
 Cold water Inlet
Connect the flexible tube from the rear left hand tapping on the fixed end plate
(adjacent to sensor T3) to the quick release cold water outlet connector on the
HT30XC rear connector with blue collar).

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  Cold Water Outlet
Connect the flexible tube from the front right hand tapping on the sliding end
plate (adjacent to sensor T4) to a suitable drain.
 Temperature Sensors
Connect the miniature thermocouple plug from each of the four temperature
sensors to the appropriate socket on the front of the service unit ensuring that
the numbers on the plugs and sockets are compatible.

Figure 1.3 connections for the experiment.

PROCEDURE

1. The starting point for all of the following tests assumes that the system has been primed as
defined above in System Set-up.

2. Start the Armfield HT32 Plate heat exchanger software from the Menu.

3. Select ‘countercurrent flow’ and click on ‘Load’ button.

4. Click on the ‘view diagram’ icon

. 5. Click on the ‘hot water flow’ tab.

6. Select the mode of operation as ‘automatic’.

7. Set the hot water flow rate as 2.5 lit/min in the ‘set point’ tab.

8. Click on ‘save’ and then the ‘apply’ button. Then, press ‘ok’.

9. On the right side of the main screen click on the ‘heater’ tab.

10. Select the mode of operation as ‘automatic’.

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11. Turn on the hot water inlet and outlet flow valves indicated as ‘A’ and ‘B’ in Figure 3.

12. Set the temperature at 50 degree Celsius.

13. Keep the remaining settings the same.

14. Click on ‘save’ and then the ‘apply’ button. Then, press ‘ok’.

15. On the left side of the main screen in ‘controls’, press ‘power on’.

16. Now, the motor and heater will start.

17. Wait until the display indicates the temperature reaching the value set for the hot water in
Step 11.

18. Once the set hot water temperature is achieved, turn on the main cold water supply valve
on HT30XC.

19. Next, the cold water flow rate is adjusted by setting the percentage valve opening to
100%. Read the actual corresponding cold water flow rate from ‘cold water flow’ box.

20. On the main screen, click on the ‘go’ button. This will start enabling collecting data.

21. Press the ‘view table’ tab and save the data collected as shown on the screen.

22. Repeat the procedure (step 18-20) for 2 more different cold water flow rates, i.e.,
corresponding to percentage valve openings of 75% and 50%. Read the corresponding cold
water flow rates from ‘cold water flow’ box.

23. This brings you to the end of the experiment. Make sure you have collected all the three
sets of data. Turn the power off by pressing the ‘power off’ button.

24. Disconnect all the connections and drain the water.

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 2. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The heat exchanger performed as it was expected to perform. The U calculated for the hot
stream was only slightly different then the U calculated for the cold stream. This indicates that
there is heat lost to the surrounding areas. The heat exchanger was most effective when the
hot water was directed into the tubes and the flow was counter-current. Also for the flow rates
examined the heat transfer rate increases as the flow rate increases. It was seen that when the
flow in the shell reached about 3.7 L/min the flow began to be disturbed. It is believed that the
baffles cause the flow to become turbulent.

When looking at the results from that data taken it is seen that the heat exchanger does
perform as it should. When the cold water is left at a constant flow rate and the hot water flow
is increased, the average U value increases. The response of the average U value with a varing
flow rate is different for the hot water in the tubes and the hot water in the shell. When the hot
water is in the shell, the U increase until the flow rate is around 3.65 L/min, and which time
the U value decreases with increased flow rates. The reason for this is believed to be caused
from the baffles within the shell in the heat exchanger, when the flow increases so much the
baffles start to make the flow turn more turbulent then laminar, so the U value changes. When
the hot water flow is in the tubes and is increased, the average U value increases constantly
with flow increase. This is because the water flow through the tubes is staying laminar
therefore making the U value more constant. When the hot water was left constant and the
cold water varied while flowing through the shell, the results seemed to be completely
opposite. The average U value decreased with increasing flow rates until the flow was about
3.7 L/min at which time the U value started to increase with higher flow rates.

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 3. REFERENCES

Schmidt, EJ and Schulze, RE. 1987. Flood volume and peak discharge from small catchments
in Southern Africa, based on the SCS technique. WRC Report No. TT 31/87. Water
Research Commission. PO Box 824, Pretoria, 0001, University of Natal,
Pietermaritzburg, 3201. WRC, Pretoria, RSA.

Smithen, AA and Schulze, RE. 1982. The spatial distribution in Southern Africa of rainfall
erosivity for use in the universal soil loss equation. Water SA 8 (2): 74-78.