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Lecture

Heat Exchangers: Fundamentals and Applications

In course

ChE-204: Introduction to transport phenomena

This course aims at understanding the basic equations behind macroscopic and microscopic transport phenomena (mass, heat and momentum). ...

Description

This lecture covers the fundamentals of heat exchangers, focusing on conduction, convection, and Fourier's Law. It explains the linear temperature profiles, Newton's Law, and the role of heat transfer coefficients. The instructor discusses the design and operation of heat exchangers, emphasizing parallel and counter flow configurations. Additionally, the lecture delves into the concept of thermal resistances and the derivation of the log mean temperature. Practical examples and calculations are provided to illustrate the principles of heat exchangers.

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Instructor

Raffaella Buonsanti

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Mechanics: Fluid mechanics

Physical quantities: Topics in physical quantities

Mechanical engineering

Thermal engineering: Air conditioning

Related concepts (32)

Convection (heat transfer)

Convection (or convective heat transfer) is the transfer of heat from one place to another due to the movement of fluid. Although often discussed as a distinct method of heat transfer, convective heat transfer involves the combined processes of conduction (heat diffusion) and advection (heat transfer by bulk fluid flow). Convection is usually the dominant form of heat transfer in liquids and gases. Note that this definition of convection is only applicable in Heat transfer and thermodynamic contexts.

Thermal conduction

Conduction is the process by which heat is transferred from the hotter end to the colder end of an object. The ability of the object to conduct heat is known as its thermal conductivity, and is denoted k. Heat spontaneously flows along a temperature gradient (i.e. from a hotter body to a colder body). For example, heat is conducted from the hotplate of an electric stove to the bottom of a saucepan in contact with it.

Heat transfer

Heat transfer is a discipline of thermal engineering that concerns the generation, use, conversion, and exchange of thermal energy (heat) between physical systems. Heat transfer is classified into various mechanisms, such as thermal conduction, thermal convection, thermal radiation, and transfer of energy by phase changes. Engineers also consider the transfer of mass of differing chemical species (mass transfer in the form of advection), either cold or hot, to achieve heat transfer.

Heat transfer coefficient

In thermodynamics, the heat transfer coefficient or film coefficient, or film effectiveness, is the proportionality constant between the heat flux and the thermodynamic driving force for the flow of heat (i.e., the temperature difference, ΔT ). It is used in calculating the heat transfer, typically by convection or phase transition between a fluid and a solid. The heat transfer coefficient has SI units in watts per square meter per kelvin (W/m2/K).

Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is a system used to transfer heat between a source and a working fluid. Heat exchangers are used in both cooling and heating processes. The fluids may be separated by a solid wall to prevent mixing or they may be in direct contact. They are widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power stations, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, natural-gas processing, and sewage treatment.

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