This paper presents a single closed form algebraic equation for the determination of the Log Mean Temperature Difference correction factor F for shell and tube heat exchangers having N shell passes and 2M tube passes per shell. The equation and its graphical presentation generalize the traditional equations and charts used for the determination of F. The equation presented is also useful in design, analysis and optimization of multi shell and tube heat exchanger, particularly for direct determination of the number of shells.

Issue Section:
Technical Notes
Keywords:
heat exchangers, heat transfer, Heat Transfer, Heat Exchangers, Optimization, Ventilation
Topics:
Heat exchangers, Shells, Temperature, Heat transfer
1.
Bowman
,
R. A.
,
Mueller
,
A. C.
, and
Nagel
,
W. M.
,
1940
, “
Mean Temperature Difference in Design
,”
Trans. ASME
,
62
, pp.
283
–
294
.
2.
Taborek, J., 1990, Hemisphere Handbook of Heat Exchanger Design Hemisphere, Bristol, PA.
3.
Bowman
,
R. A.
,
1936
, “
Mean Temperature Difference Correction in Multipass Exchangers
”
Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam.
,
28
, pp.
541
–
544
.
4.
Incropera, F. P., and De Witt, D., Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 3rd ed., Wiley.
5.
Mills, A. F. 1999, Heat Transfer, 2nd Ed., Prentice Hall.
6.
Tucker
,
A. S.
,
1996
, “
The LMTD Correction Factor for Single-Pass Crossflow Heat Exchangers with Both Fluids Unmixed
,”
ASME J. Heat Transfer
,
118
, pp.
488
–
490
.
Copyright © 2003
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.