Heat Transfer Coefficient For Water In Tube Side In Shell And Tube Heat Exchanger Calculator

Formula Used:

\[ h_i = \frac{4200 \times (1.35 + 0.02 \times T_w) \times V_f^{0.8}}{D_i^{0.2}} \]

Water Temperature (T_w):

°C

Fluid Velocity in Heat Exchanger (V_f):

m/s

Pipe Inner Diameter in Exchanger (D_i):

Tube Side Heat Transfer Coefficient (h_i):

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1. What is Tube Side Heat Transfer Coefficient?

The Tube Side Heat Transfer Coefficient (h_i) represents the heat transfer efficiency for fluids flowing through the tubes in a shell and tube heat exchanger. It quantifies how effectively heat is transferred from the tube wall to the fluid inside the tubes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following empirical formula:

\[ h_i = \frac{4200 \times (1.35 + 0.02 \times T_w) \times V_f^{0.8}}{D_i^{0.2}} \]

Where:

\( h_i \) — Tube Side Heat Transfer Coefficient (W/m²°C)
\( T_w \) — Water Temperature (°C)
\( V_f \) — Fluid Velocity in Heat Exchanger (m/s)
\( D_i \) — Pipe Inner Diameter in Exchanger (mm)

Explanation: This empirical formula accounts for the effects of water temperature, fluid velocity, and pipe diameter on the convective heat transfer coefficient for water flowing through tubes.

3. Importance of Heat Transfer Coefficient Calculation

Details: Accurate calculation of heat transfer coefficients is crucial for designing efficient heat exchangers, optimizing energy consumption, and ensuring proper heat transfer performance in various industrial applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter water temperature in °C, fluid velocity in m/s, and pipe inner diameter in mm. All values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What factors affect the tube side heat transfer coefficient?
A: The coefficient is influenced by fluid properties, flow velocity, tube diameter, temperature, and the nature of the fluid (laminar vs turbulent flow).

Q2: Why is fluid velocity raised to the power of 0.8?
A: This exponent reflects the relationship between flow velocity and convective heat transfer, where increased velocity generally improves heat transfer up to a certain point.

Q3: What are typical values for tube side heat transfer coefficients?
A: For water in tubes, typical values range from 1000-6000 W/m²°C, depending on flow conditions, temperature, and tube dimensions.

Q4: How does pipe diameter affect the heat transfer coefficient?
A: Smaller diameters generally result in higher heat transfer coefficients due to increased fluid velocity and better mixing, though they also increase pressure drop.

Q5: Is this formula specific to water only?
A: Yes, this particular empirical formula is specifically developed for water flowing through tubes in shell and tube heat exchangers.