Effectiveness/NTU Curves for Tubular Heat Exchangers

Definitions
m = (mass flow rate) /(kg / s )
C = ( specific heat capacity) /( J /(kg K ))
m C = (heat capacity rate) /(W / K )
(lower heat capacity rate)
R=
(higher heat capacity rate)
U = (overall heat transfer coefficient ) /(W /(m 2 K ))
A = ( surface area for heat transfer ) /(m 2 )
UA
NTU = (number of transfer units ) =
(m C )lower
(temperature change of fluid with lower capacity rate)
ε = (effectiveness) =
(difference between entry temperatures of hot and cold fluids )

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 Effectiveness/NTU Curves: parallel flow
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Effectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
NTU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 2 of 8

 E ffectiveness/NTU Curves: counter flow

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Effectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2 .5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 3 of 8

 Effectiveness/N TU C urves:
one shell pass and an even num ber of tube passes
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
E ffectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2 .5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 4 of 8

 Effectiveness/N TU C urves:
two shell passes and tw ice an even number of tube passes
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
E ffectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 5 of 8

 Effectiveness/NTU C urves:
cross flow - both fluids unm ixed
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
Effectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2 .5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 6 of 8

 Effectiveness/NTU C urves:
crossflow - lower capacity fluid m ixed
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
E ffectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3 .5 4 4 .5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 7 of 8

 Effectiveness/NTU C urves:
crossflow - higher capacity fluid m ixed
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
E ffectiveness

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3 .5 4 4 .5 5
N TU

Copyright: Glasgow College of Nautical Studies Page 8 of 8