Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger

http://excelcalculations.blogspot.com

Parameters
Air Temperature

20 C

Heat transfer coefficient

Pipe diameter

Ta

40000 W m-2 K-1

0.1 m

Liquid density

1000 kg m-3

Specific heat capacity

4200 J kg K
-1

Liquid flowrate
Inlet liquid temperature
Time step
Space step

1
100
0.01
0.02

kg s
C
s
m

U
D
rho

-1

Cp
F
T0
dt
dx

-1

Distance x
Time t

0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
0.1
0.11
0.12
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.18
0.19
0.2
0.21
0.22
0.23
0.24
0.25
0.26
0.27
0.28

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

100.00
99.70
99.41
99.15
98.90
98.67
98.45
98.25
98.07
97.89
97.73
97.58
97.44
97.30
97.18
97.07
96.96
96.86
96.77
96.68
96.60
96.52
96.45
96.39
96.33
96.27
96.22
96.17
96.12

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.50
98.21
97.93
97.65
97.38
97.12
96.87
96.62
96.38
96.15
95.92
95.71
95.50
95.30
95.10
94.92
94.74
94.57
94.40
94.25
94.10
93.95
93.82
93.68

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.19
97.89
97.60
97.31
97.02
96.73
96.45
96.17
95.89
95.62
95.35
95.08
94.82
94.57
94.32
94.07
93.83
93.60
93.37
93.15
92.93
92.72
92.51

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.19
97.89
97.59
97.30
97.01
96.71
96.42
96.13
95.84
95.56
95.27
94.99
94.71
94.43
94.16
93.89
93.62
93.35
93.09
92.83
92.57
92.32
92.07

0.29
0.3
0.31
0.32
0.33
0.34
0.35
0.36
0.37
0.38
0.39
0.4
0.41
0.42
0.43
0.44
0.45
0.46
0.47
0.48
0.49
0.5
0.51
0.52
0.53
0.54
0.55
0.56
0.57
0.58
0.59
0.6
0.61
0.62
0.63
0.64
0.65
0.66
0.67
0.68
0.69
0.7
0.71
0.72
0.73
0.74
0.75
0.76

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

96.08
96.04
96.00
95.97
95.93
95.90
95.87
95.85
95.82
95.80
95.78
95.76
95.74
95.72
95.71
95.69
95.68
95.66
95.65
95.64
95.63
95.62
95.61
95.60
95.59
95.59
95.58
95.57
95.57
95.56
95.56
95.55
95.55
95.54
95.54
95.53
95.53
95.53
95.53
95.52
95.52
95.52
95.51
95.51
95.51
95.51
95.51
95.51

93.56
93.44
93.32
93.22
93.11
93.01
92.92
92.83
92.74
92.66
92.59
92.51
92.44
92.38
92.31
92.25
92.20
92.14
92.09
92.05
92.00
91.96
91.92
91.88
91.84
91.81
91.77
91.74
91.71
91.69
91.66
91.63
91.61
91.59
91.57
91.55
91.53
91.51
91.49
91.48
91.46
91.45
91.44
91.42
91.41
91.40
91.39
91.38

92.31
92.11
91.92
91.74
91.56
91.38
91.22
91.05
90.90
90.74
90.60
90.45
90.32
90.18
90.06
89.93
89.81
89.70
89.59
89.48
89.38
89.29
89.19
89.10
89.01
88.93
88.85
88.78
88.70
88.63
88.57
88.50
88.44
88.38
88.32
88.27
88.22
88.17
88.12
88.08
88.04
87.99
87.96
87.92
87.88
87.85
87.82
87.79

91.82
91.58
91.34
91.10
90.87
90.65
90.42
90.21
89.99
89.78
89.58
89.38
89.18
88.99
88.80
88.62
88.44
88.27
88.10
87.94
87.78
87.62
87.47
87.32
87.18
87.04
86.90
86.77
86.65
86.52
86.40
86.29
86.18
86.07
85.96
85.86
85.77
85.67
85.58
85.49
85.41
85.33
85.25
85.17
85.10
85.03
84.96
84.89

0.77
0.78
0.79
0.8
0.81
0.82
0.83
0.84
0.85
0.86
0.87
0.88
0.89
0.9
0.91
0.92
0.93
0.94
0.95
0.96
0.97
0.98
0.99
1

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00

95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.50
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49
95.49

91.37
91.36
91.35
91.35
91.34
91.33
91.33
91.32
91.31
91.31
91.30
91.30
91.29
91.29
91.29
91.28
91.28
91.27
91.27
91.27
91.27
91.26
91.26
91.26

87.76
87.73
87.70
87.68
87.65
87.63
87.61
87.59
87.57
87.55
87.53
87.51
87.50
87.48
87.47
87.45
87.44
87.43
87.41
87.40
87.39
87.38
87.37
87.36

84.83
84.77
84.71
84.65
84.60
84.55
84.50
84.45
84.41
84.36
84.32
84.28
84.24
84.20
84.17
84.13
84.10
84.07
84.04
84.01
83.98
83.95
83.93
83.90

Air at 20 oC
Liquid at
100 oC

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

0.2

0.22

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.19
97.89
97.59
97.30
97.00
96.71
96.42
96.13
95.84
95.55
95.26
94.98
94.69
94.41
94.13
93.85
93.57
93.29
93.02
92.74
92.47
92.20
91.93

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.19
97.89
97.59
97.30
97.00
96.71
96.42
96.13
95.84
95.55
95.26
94.97
94.69
94.40
94.12
93.84
93.56
93.28
93.00
92.72
92.45
92.17
91.90

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.19
97.89
97.59
97.30
97.00
96.71
96.42
96.13
95.84
95.55
95.26
94.97
94.69
94.40
94.12
93.84
93.56
93.28
93.00
92.72
92.44
92.17
91.89

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.53
99.14
98.76
98.38
98.02
97.66
97.30
96.95
96.60
96.26
95.93
95.60
95.27
94.94
94.62
94.31
93.99
93.68
93.38
93.07
92.77
92.48
92.18

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.31
99.00
98.68
98.36
98.04
97.72
97.40
97.07
96.75
96.43
96.10
95.78
95.46
95.14
94.82
94.50
94.19
93.87
93.56
93.25
92.94
92.63

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.81
97.50
97.20
96.90
96.60
96.29
95.99
95.69
95.39
95.08
94.78
94.48
94.18
93.87
93.57
93.27
92.97

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.63
96.34
96.04
95.75
95.46
95.17
94.88
94.58
94.29
94.00
93.71
93.42
93.13

91.67
91.40
91.14
90.88
90.63
90.37
90.12
89.88
89.63
89.39
89.15
88.91
88.68
88.45
88.22
88.00
87.78
87.57
87.35
87.14
86.94
86.74
86.54
86.35
86.15
85.97
85.78
85.61
85.43
85.26
85.09
84.93
84.77
84.61
84.46
84.31
84.16
84.02
83.88
83.74
83.61
83.48
83.36
83.24
83.12
83.01
82.89
82.79

91.63
91.36
91.09
90.82
90.56
90.29
90.03
89.77
89.51
89.25
89.00
88.74
88.49
88.24
88.00
87.75
87.51
87.27
87.03
86.80
86.57
86.34
86.11
85.88
85.66
85.44
85.23
85.01
84.80
84.60
84.39
84.19
83.99
83.80
83.61
83.42
83.23
83.05
82.87
82.70
82.53
82.36
82.19
82.03
81.87
81.71
81.56
81.41

91.62
91.35
91.08
90.81
90.54
90.27
90.00
89.74
89.47
89.21
88.95
88.69
88.43
88.18
87.92
87.67
87.41
87.16
86.91
86.67
86.42
86.18
85.94
85.70
85.46
85.22
84.99
84.75
84.52
84.30
84.07
83.85
83.63
83.41
83.19
82.98
82.76
82.56
82.35
82.14
81.94
81.74
81.55
81.35
81.16
80.98
80.79
80.61

91.89
91.60
91.31
91.02
90.74
90.45
90.17
89.90
89.62
89.35
89.07
88.80
88.53
88.27
88.00
87.74
87.47
87.21
86.95
86.70
86.44
86.19
85.93
85.68
85.43
85.18
84.94
84.69
84.45
84.21
83.97
83.73
83.50
83.26
83.03
82.80
82.57
82.35
82.12
81.90
81.68
81.46
81.25
81.03
80.82
80.61
80.40
80.20

92.33
92.02
91.72
91.42
91.12
90.83
90.53
90.24
89.95
89.67
89.38
89.10
88.81
88.53
88.26
87.98
87.70
87.43
87.16
86.89
86.62
86.36
86.10
85.83
85.57
85.31
85.06
84.80
84.55
84.30
84.05
83.80
83.55
83.30
83.06
82.82
82.58
82.34
82.10
81.87
81.63
81.40
81.17
80.94
80.72
80.49
80.27
80.05

92.67
92.37
92.07
91.78
91.48
91.19
90.89
90.60
90.31
90.02
89.73
89.44
89.15
88.87
88.59
88.30
88.02
87.74
87.47
87.19
86.91
86.64
86.37
86.10
85.83
85.56
85.30
85.03
84.77
84.51
84.25
83.99
83.74
83.48
83.23
82.98
82.73
82.48
82.23
81.99
81.74
81.50
81.26
81.02
80.78
80.55
80.31
80.08

92.84
92.56
92.27
91.98
91.69
91.41
91.12
90.84
90.55
90.27
89.98
89.70
89.42
89.14
88.86
88.58
88.30
88.02
87.74
87.47
87.19
86.92
86.65
86.37
86.10
85.84
85.57
85.30
85.03
84.77
84.51
84.24
83.98
83.72
83.47
83.21
82.95
82.70
82.45
82.19
81.94
81.70
81.45
81.20
80.96
80.71
80.47
80.23

82.68
82.58
82.48
82.38
82.29
82.20
82.11
82.03
81.95
81.87
81.79
81.72
81.64
81.57
81.51
81.44
81.38
81.32
81.26
81.20
81.15
81.10
81.05
81.00

81.26
81.12
80.98
80.84
80.71
80.58
80.45
80.33
80.21
80.09
79.97
79.86
79.75
79.64
79.54
79.44
79.34
79.24
79.15
79.06
78.97
78.88
78.80
78.72

80.43
80.25
80.08
79.91
79.74
79.57
79.41
79.25
79.09
78.94
78.79
78.64
78.49
78.35
78.21
78.07
77.94
77.81
77.68
77.55
77.43
77.31
77.19
77.07

79.99
79.79
79.59
79.40
79.20
79.01
78.82
78.64
78.45
78.27
78.09
77.91
77.74
77.57
77.40
77.23
77.07
76.90
76.75
76.59
76.43
76.28
76.13
75.99

79.83
79.61
79.40
79.18
78.97
78.76
78.55
78.35
78.14
77.94
77.74
77.54
77.35
77.16
76.96
76.77
76.59
76.40
76.22
76.04
75.86
75.68
75.51
75.34

79.85
79.62
79.39
79.17
78.94
78.72
78.50
78.28
78.06
77.85
77.63
77.42
77.21
77.00
76.79
76.59
76.38
76.18
75.98
75.78
75.59
75.39
75.20
75.01

79.99
79.76
79.52
79.28
79.05
78.82
78.59
78.36
78.13
77.91
77.68
77.46
77.24
77.02
76.80
76.58
76.37
76.15
75.94
75.73
75.52
75.31
75.11
74.90

0.24

0.26

0.28

0.3

0.32

0.34

0.36

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.34
96.05
95.76
95.47
95.19
94.90
94.61
94.33
94.04
93.76
93.47
93.19

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.76
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.48
93.20

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

92.91
92.62
92.34
92.06
91.78
91.50
91.23
90.95
90.67
90.39
90.12
89.84
89.57
89.29
89.02
88.74
88.47
88.20
87.93
87.66
87.39
87.12
86.85
86.58
86.32
86.05
85.78
85.52
85.26
84.99
84.73
84.47
84.21
83.95
83.69
83.44
83.18
82.93
82.67
82.42
82.17
81.92
81.67
81.42
81.17
80.92
80.68
80.43

92.92
92.64
92.37
92.09
91.81
91.54
91.26
90.99
90.72
90.44
90.17
89.90
89.63
89.36
89.09
88.83
88.56
88.29
88.03
87.76
87.50
87.23
86.97
86.71
86.44
86.18
85.92
85.66
85.40
85.14
84.89
84.63
84.37
84.12
83.86
83.61
83.36
83.10
82.85
82.60
82.35
82.10
81.85
81.61
81.36
81.11
80.87
80.62

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.27
91.00
90.73
90.46
90.19
89.92
89.65
89.39
89.12
88.86
88.59
88.33
88.07
87.80
87.54
87.28
87.02
86.76
86.51
86.25
85.99
85.74
85.48
85.23
84.97
84.72
84.47
84.22
83.97
83.72
83.47
83.22
82.97
82.72
82.47
82.23
81.98
81.74
81.50
81.25
81.01
80.77

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.28
91.00
90.73
90.46
90.20
89.93
89.66
89.40
89.13
88.87
88.60
88.34
88.08
87.82
87.56
87.30
87.04
86.79
86.53
86.28
86.02
85.77
85.52
85.26
85.01
84.76
84.51
84.27
84.02
83.77
83.52
83.28
83.03
82.79
82.55
82.30
82.06
81.82
81.58
81.34
81.10
80.86

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.28
91.01
90.73
90.47
90.20
89.93
89.66
89.40
89.13
88.87
88.61
88.34
88.08
87.82
87.57
87.31
87.05
86.80
86.54
86.29
86.03
85.78
85.53
85.28
85.03
84.78
84.53
84.29
84.04
83.79
83.55
83.31
83.06
82.82
82.58
82.34
82.10
81.86
81.62
81.38
81.15
80.91

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.28
91.01
90.73
90.47
90.20
89.93
89.66
89.40
89.13
88.87
88.61
88.35
88.09
87.83
87.57
87.31
87.05
86.80
86.54
86.29
86.04
85.79
85.53
85.28
85.04
84.79
84.54
84.29
84.05
83.80
83.56
83.32
83.08
82.83
82.59
82.35
82.12
81.88
81.64
81.41
81.17
80.94

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.28
91.01
90.73
90.47
90.20
89.93
89.66
89.40
89.13
88.87
88.61
88.35
88.09
87.83
87.57
87.31
87.05
86.80
86.54
86.29
86.04
85.79
85.54
85.29
85.04
84.79
84.54
84.30
84.05
83.81
83.56
83.32
83.08
82.84
82.60
82.36
82.12
81.89
81.65
81.41
81.18
80.95

80.19
79.95
79.71
79.47
79.23
78.99
78.76
78.52
78.29
78.06
77.83
77.60
77.37
77.14
76.92
76.69
76.47
76.25
76.03
75.81
75.59
75.37
75.16
74.95

80.38
80.14
79.90
79.66
79.42
79.18
78.94
78.71
78.47
78.24
78.00
77.77
77.54
77.31
77.08
76.85
76.63
76.40
76.18
75.95
75.73
75.51
75.29
75.07

80.53
80.29
80.05
79.81
79.57
79.34
79.10
78.86
78.63
78.40
78.16
77.93
77.70
77.47
77.24
77.01
76.79
76.56
76.33
76.11
75.89
75.66
75.44
75.22

80.62
80.39
80.15
79.91
79.68
79.45
79.21
78.98
78.75
78.52
78.29
78.06
77.83
77.60
77.37
77.14
76.92
76.69
76.47
76.24
76.02
75.80
75.58
75.36

80.68
80.44
80.21
79.97
79.74
79.51
79.28
79.05
78.82
78.59
78.36
78.14
77.91
77.68
77.46
77.23
77.01
76.79
76.57
76.34
76.12
75.90
75.68
75.46

80.70
80.47
80.24
80.01
79.78
79.55
79.32
79.09
78.86
78.63
78.41
78.18
77.96
77.73
77.51
77.29
77.07
76.85
76.63
76.41
76.19
75.97
75.75
75.53

80.71
80.48
80.25
80.02
79.79
79.56
79.33
79.11
78.88
78.65
78.43
78.21
77.98
77.76
77.54
77.32
77.10
76.88
76.66
76.44
76.22
76.01
75.79
75.58

0.38

0.4

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
99.92
99.62
99.32
99.01
98.71
98.41
98.11
97.82
97.52
97.22
96.93
96.64
96.35
96.05
95.77
95.48
95.19
94.90
94.62
94.33
94.05
93.77
93.49
93.21

100.00
99.70
99.39
99.09
98.79
98.49
98.28
98.07
97.85
97.63
97.40
97.17
96.94
96.70
96.46
96.22
95.97
95.72
95.48
95.23
94.97
94.72
94.46
94.21
93.95
93.69
93.44
93.18
92.92

92.93
92.65
92.37
92.10
91.82
91.55
91.28
91.01
90.73
90.47
90.20
89.93
89.66
89.40
89.13
88.87
88.61
88.35
88.09
87.83
87.57
87.31
87.05
86.80
86.54
86.29
86.04
85.79
85.54
85.29
85.04
84.79
84.54
84.30
84.05
83.81
83.56
83.32
83.08
82.84
82.60
82.36
82.13
81.89
81.65
81.42
81.18
80.95

92.66
92.40
92.14
91.88
91.62
91.36
91.10
90.84
90.58
90.32
90.06
89.80
89.55
89.29
89.03
88.78
88.52
88.26
88.01
87.76
87.50
87.25
87.00
86.74
86.49
86.24
85.99
85.75
85.50
85.25
85.00
84.76
84.51
84.27
84.03
83.78
83.54
83.30
83.06
82.82
82.59
82.35
82.11
81.88
81.64
81.41
81.17
80.94

80.72
80.49
80.26
80.03
79.80
79.57
79.34
79.11
78.89
78.66
78.44
78.22
77.99
77.77
77.55
77.33
77.11
76.89
76.68
76.46
76.24
76.03
75.81
75.60

80.71
80.48
80.25
80.02
79.79
79.56
79.34
79.11
78.89
78.66
78.44
78.22
77.99
77.77
77.55
77.33
77.12
76.90
76.68
76.46
76.25
76.03
75.82
75.61

Dynamic Model of a Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger

Introduction

This article will develop a dynamic model of a cross-flow heat exchanger from first principles

If you just want the Excel implementation, then click here, but I enco

First Principles Modeling

Consider liquid flowing (at mass flowrate F) through a length x of pipe (diameter D), subjec

A heat balance over time t gives the following.

Dividing by x and t and simplifying gives

As x and t tend to zero, we get the following parabolic partial differential equation

Equation 1

Finite Difference Approximation

A forward difference approximation for the first of temperature with respect to time is

Equation 2

A backward difference approximation for the first of temperature with respect to space is

Equation 4

Substituting Equation 2 and 3 into Equation 1, and rearranging gives

Equation 4

We only need to know the temperature of the bar at time t (on the RHS of Equation 4) to cal

Implementating in Excel
This is how Equation 4 will be implemented in Excel

We will now discuss the individual steps in detail.

Step 1 - Specify your parameters, including your chosen time and space step. I've named the

Step 2 - Create a column and row containing your space and time steps

Step 3 - Fill in your initial conditions at time t = 0 (this will be the inlet liquid temperature a

Step 4 - Insert your boundary conditions at distance x = 0 (this will be the inlet liquid temper

Step 5 - Implement Equation 4 into the first empty cell (at t = t and x = x)

Step 5 - Copy this formula to all other times and positions. For my implementation, I go up t

The techniques I've demonstrated above can be applied to many other challenges in science,

t Exchanger

w heat exchanger from first principles, and then discretize the governing partial differential equation with finite difference approximations. It will t

n, then click here, but I encourage you to read the rest of the article so you understand how the spreadsheet

ength x of pipe (diameter D), subject to cooling by cross-flow air (at temperature Ta and heat transfer coefficient U)

c partial differential equation

perature with respect to time is

mperature with respect to space is

me t (on the RHS of Equation 4) to calculate the temperature at time t + t (on the LHS of Equation 4).

time and space step. I've named the cells in Column C with the names in Column E. I'll use named values when entering Equation 4.

and time steps

will be the inlet liquid temperature as specified in the parameters).

0 (this will be the inlet liquid temperature - the same as the initial condition).

(at t = t and x = x)

ns. For my implementation, I go up to t = 1 and x = 0.4.

to many other challenges in science, engineering and math. If you have any requests, then let me know.

te difference approximations. It will then demonstrate how this equation can be implemented in Excel (or indeed any other math tool)

stand how the spreadsheet is implemented.

n entering Equation 4.

ed any other math tool)