Thermal performance analysis for heat exchangers having a variable overall heat transfer coefficient

The classic, conventional analysis for the thermal performance of heat exchangers is based on three assumptions: constant fluid flow rate, constant specific heat fluids, and constant overall heat transfer coefficient. Our analysis describes a general approach for analyzing the thermal performance of heat exchangers in which the overall heat transfer coefficient varies as a function of enthalpy, with the other two basic assumptions of constant mass flow rates and constant specific heats unchanged. Many heat exchangers have an overall heat transfer coefficient that is not constant. The conventional heat exchanger thermal performance analysis is correct as long as a true, area-weighted mean value is used. In many applications, however, fluids undergo a change in phase, and the heat transfer coefficient is a function of the local quality or enthalpy; hence, the true, area-weighted, mean heat transfer coefficient will be a function of the heat flux distribution. Examples are presented that illustrate the variation in overall heat transfer coefficient for an evaporation process. We present a general method for computing a true, area-weighted mean overall heat transfer coefficient that permits use of a local overall heat transfer coefficient that is an arbitrary function of enthalpy. This method allows a simple yetmore » accurate analysis of the effects of a variable overall heat transfer coefficient to be made without the use of a large mainframe computer. We then investigate (1) linear variation of local overall heat transfer coefficient with respect to enthalpy and (2) two heat transfer correlations applicable to flow-boiling inside a tube. 9 refs., 5 figs., 4 tabs.« less