Chemical Engineering and Processing.

31 ( 1992) 49-56 49

Plate heat exchangers-method of calculation, charts and guidelines

for selecting plate heat exchanger configurations

Tadeusz Zaleski and Krystyna Klepacka

Institute of Chemiml Enginrering, Polish Acr~dony of Sciences, ul. Baltyckrr 5, 44- 100 Gliwice (Poland)

(Received November 18, 1991)

Abstract

A calculation procedure for plate heat exchangers is proposed. Based on this procedure, some useful charts are
presented: the mean tempcraturc diffcrencc AQ, versus the thermal effectiveness P and the log mean temperature
difference correction factor I) versus P, as functions of the number of transfer units NTU and the heat capacity rate
ratio R, for the various plate heat exchanger configurations. About 150 different configurations, classified on the
basis of number of channels, number of passes of each fluids and flow arrangement, have been analysed. The specific
guidelines for selecting the appropriate plate heat exchanger configuration (taking into account the highest
effectiveness) are proposed.

Introduction r/j = f( Re), based on experiments, for two channel inter-

connections, series and parallel. The number of plates
The objectives of this paper are: investigated was varied from 2 up to 17. Mennicke
(1) to describe the method of solving the model [4, 51 describes 4 as a function of the number of
equations for plate heat exchangers (PHEs) and to channels, n, and the parameter NTU, for interconnec-
point out how to use this method in preparing efficient tion of channels in series only.
charts applicable in the design of PHEs; Jackson and Troupe [6] analysed 1 - 1 and 2-2 pass
(2) to present some of the charts: the mean tempera- arrangements with overall counterflow and parallel
ture difference A&, versus the thermal effectiveness P flow, and 4-4 arrangements with overall counterflow.
and the log mean temperature difference correction They obtained results for 0.3 < NTU < 12, R = Cm,,/
factor ti versus P, as functions of NTU, and the heat Cm,,=0.25, 0.5,0.75 and 1, and for up to n = 6
capacity rate ratio R, for different PHE configurations; channels. Since n is normally greater than 40, their
(3) to give guidelines for selecting appropriate PHE results for n < 6 have limited utility. Marriott [7] pre-
configurations. sents the $ factor for l-l, 2-1, 2-2 and 3-l pass
arrangements for NTU < I I and 0.7 < R 4 1.4, but he
does not provide any information about the number of
Literature review plates investigated. Zaleski and Jarzebski [8] state that,
as the number of plates increases, the thermal effective-
An extensive literature considers the geometry of PHEs ness of PHEs approaches the effectiveness of coun-
and various plate types as well as heat calculations. A tertlow or parallel-flow heat exchangers.
brief literature review is given here, with reference to the ALFA LAVAL [2], the well-known producer of heat
various heat calculation problems. Usually, in the liter- exchangers, proposes the use of the relationships E-
ature, two parameters are provided: the thermal effective- NTU derived for multipass shell and tube heat ex-
ness (as a function of NTU = kF/C) and the log mean changers to calculate the parameters of PHEs.
temperature difference (LMTD) correction factor $. Zaleski and Wardas [9] provide two charts: the de-
These parameters have been obtained by previous pendence of the factor $ on the number of channels for
investigators for various PHE configurations. two values of NTU, = kF/C, for R = 1, and the de-
Kays and London [ 1] and ALFA LAVAL [2] pro- pendence of the factor $ on the ratio R for several
pose + = I for every configuration and flow arrange- values of NTU,. These charts are presented for three
ment of PHEs. Buonopane et al. [3] give the charts different configurations of PHE. Moreover, the thermal

0255-2701/92/$5.00 0 1992 - Elsevier Sequoia All rights reserved.

50

effectiveness of the PHE as a function of NTU, for tions. We believe that their approach to the calculation
several interconnections between channels, is compared problems concerning PHEs is the most comprehensive.
for n = 8, 16 and 32, and R = 1. In our paper, besides guidelines for the selection of
The heat transfer calculations for the various types of PHE configurations, we propose a procedure for mak-
heat exchangers are also included in a very interesting ing useful charts for PHEs. The form of these charts is
book by Martin [lo]. similar to that in the Heat Exchanger Design Handbook
A whole section concerning PHEs is given in the 1980 [ 111 concerning other types of heat exchanger. Very
and 1986 editions of the Heat Exchanger Design Hand- recently in VDZ- Wiirmeatlas [ 161, Roetzel and Spang
book, edited by Schliinder [ 111. In general, the authors [ 16, 171 presented other types of diagrams for the l-2:
focus on PHE construction and types of plates. They l-3, l-4 and 2-4 pass arrangements of PHEs. These
give the heat transfer and friction factor correlations, diagrams enable us to read the quantities P,, P,,
but only for selected types of plates. The rough mcth- NTU,, NTU,. R,, R, and IJ directly.
ods of surface area calculation for a required NTU duty
are proposed. They give a quick assessment of the PHE
based on the log mean temperature difference (LMTD). Temperature profiles
There is no information referring to the mean tempera-
ture difference (MTD). A mathematical model of heat transfer in multichan-
The recent works of Pignotti and Tamborenea [ 121 nel, parallel-flow heat exchangers is defined by a system
and Kandlikar and Shah [ 13, 141 have proved very of linear ordinary equations. This model was first pre-
useful. Pignotti and Tamborenea [ 121 performed a com- sented by Wolf [IX]. An analysis of this subject has also
parative analysis of the various possible arrangements been presented by, among others, Mennickc [4, 51 and
(configurations) of PHEs. They analysed in detail and Zaleski [ 193:
classified all the configurations considered. They have
selected the arrangements of two apparently different dQ, = -C; dti = i k& - ti) dF,, (1)
configurations which ensure the same effcctivencss. i= I
They obtained the effectiveness of the exchanger in i=l,2,...,n
terms of the segments into which the whole cxchangcr
Introducing the dimensionless temperature
was divided. The well-known formulae of Domingos
[ 151 were used. Pignotti and Tamborenea provide se- tt - tmin
Bi =
lected charts on the effectiveness P versus NTU for 4nax- trnm
R ~0.5 and 2, and n = 15, 16 and 17. for 2-2, 2-3, and the dimensionless quantities
2-4, 3-3 and 4-4 pass arrangements. These charts arc
concerned with four possible flow arrangements.
Shah and Kandlikar [ 13, 141 performed detailed heat and
transfer calculations for different PHE configurations.
z=x,‘h, z~(O,l) (4)
They considered single and multipass arrangements, for
a number of plates covering the range of practical the system of equations (1) takes the form
applications. They present the values of the thermal
effectiveness and the correction factor $ as a function
de,
d + i aJH, - Oj) = 0 i=l,2,...,n
z ,=I
of R (0.5 < R d 8), NTU (0.2 < NTU d 10) and n (up
to m) for all possible l-l, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 3-3, 4-1, The dimensionless coordinate z is the ratio of the
4-2 and 4-4 pass arrangements. Tabular results are linear coordinate x (length) to the length h of the
given for the commonly employed overall counterflow channel.
arrangements. They also present several charts (rela- The solution of eqns. (1) provides the temperature
tionships $ -I!J, P-NTU and P-N) for selected con- profiles, and thus the outlet temperatures and the mean
figurations and flow arrangements (more information temperature difference, for the given parameters (heat
about P will be given later in the paper). They derived capacity rate ratio, inlet temperatures, overall heat
[ 131 temperature effectiveness formulae for a few typical transfer coefficient).
configurations with an infinite number of plates. These Exact analytical solutions are possible if the eigen-
formulae are functions of the thermal effectiveness of values and the eigenvectors for the matrix of system (5)
the basic parallel flow and counterflow heat exchangers. are known. It is not easy to find these values for the
Shah and Kandlikar [ 13, 141 also present specific guide- many PHE configurations, so approximate methods are
lines for the selection of appropriate PHE configura- needed. Settari and Venart [20] have presented a gen-
tions. So far, their papers have provided the most eral numerical method. A modification of their method
comprehensive analysis of different PHE configura- is presented below.
 Using a linear combination of the exponential func-
tions for the temperature in each channel, the function
for a two-medium plate heat exchanger takes the form
FlOlV
arrangement: 20 21 NO
Oi = tin + cil exp(y, , z) + ci2 exp( -_y, z)
Fig. I. Flow arrangements of tluids A and B.
+ et3 exp(y,,-) + ci4 exp( - ~9) i-1,2,...,n

(6)
where

Fig. 2. Schematic representation of configuration 24.12/3.N0 of a

plate heat exchanger.

The values of y, and y2 refer to a single channel, k is the exchanger in Fig. 2 has 24 channels, 12 channels in one
overall heat transfer coefficient, assumed constant in bundle for fluid A, 3 channels in one bundle for fluid B,
each channel as well as over the whole exchanger, F,_, and the flow arrangement NO. If we classify a two-fluid
represents the surface area of one plate, and C,,, and PHE on the basis of the number of passes for each fluid
c 8,0 are the heat capacities of the fluid A (hot) and stream (the pass arrangements) we can write the symbol
fluid B (cold) in a single channel. The coefficients ci, for this PHE as 24.1-4.NO. The number of passes
(I = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) of eqns. (6) are calculated by substitut- referring to fluid A is 1, and to fluid B it is 4.
ing (6) into the ith equation of (5). Integrating (5) for
four different combinations of the values of
0 = z, < z, < z2 < z3 < zq = 1 as the integration limits, Heat transfer calculations and charts
we obtain 4n linear algebraic equations. The missing n
equations are provided by the boundary conditions. An approximate ‘exponential’ method was used in
Having 5n such equations, we can find all the unknown temperature profile calculations for about 150 configu-
coefficients ci,, and hence all the unknown temperatures rations of PHEs. A wide range of parameters
in the exchanger. (R, NTU,) was investigated. The mean temperature
For kFO/CA, O= kF,/C,, O we use the following func- difference AO, and the correction factor $ were calcu-
tion instead of (6): lated for the majority of the possible PHE configura-
tions, according to the following formulae:
0, = ciO + cil exp(y, 2) + ci2 exp( --y, z) + cDz (7)
The number of equations is now equal to 4n. More (8)
information about this method, termed ‘exponential’,
has been presented by Zaleski and Klepacka [21]. *~~~!!Yg (9)
I”

where
Plate heat exchanger configurations
1 - 0,. out - (IA, O”t
A&, = 2 = (10)
The configurations of PHEs are specified by: mnx 1nK 1 - % ,,,)l(@,. J
_ the number of channels (n); According to (8) we have
~ the number of bundles in series, that is, the number
of passes for each fluid stream (iA, in); (11)
~ the number of channels in parallel interconnection in
the bundle (mA, mB) or the ratio r ( =m,/m,); The selection of the thermal parameters and an ap-
~ the position of the inlet for each fluid stream (leading propriate PHE configuration requires temperature
to a counterflow or parallel-flow arrangement). profile calculations in each case. Instead of time-con-
The flow arrangements are presented in Fig. 1 and suming calculations, convenient charts are proposed.
one of the possible PHE configurations is shown in Fig. These charts allow the quantities AQ,, Ic, and P to be
2 (A refers to the hot fluid, B to the cold fluid). The evaluated for a wide range of R and NTU.
configuration of this PHE is specified exactly by the Similar charts for many types of heat exchangers,
symbol 24.12/3.N0. The first number, 24, describes the except PHEs, have been presented in the Heat Exchanger
number of channels, n; the next two numbers are the Design Handbook [ 111. Based on the same idea, we
quantities mA = 12 and m, = 3); the symbol NO is the propose design charts for PHEs. The charts are arranged
flow arrangement (as shown in Fig. 1). Thus, the in dual form, as shown in Figs. 3-7. The values of P
52

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

are plotted against AB,, or t+b. The parameters are R
( = C,/C,) and NTU,, concerning the cold fluid B in the D.9 NTU
whole exchanger (NTU, = kF,(n - 1)/C,). 0.8
The quantity P may he regarded as some sort of 0.7

effectiveness, calculated as follows: 0.6

0.5
At,
P= -----=AfI, (12) 3.4
At,,, 0.3

The relations between P and the effectiveness E are the 0.2

following: 0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
P=E for R=C,/C,,<l
(13)
P= E/R for R z=-1 0.9

0.8
where
0.1

E=-= Q kF At, 0.6

Qmas Gin Atmax -+0.5

'" 0.4

= NJ-U,,, -% = NTU,,, A&,, (14) 0.3

4,x 0.2

For given R and NTU,. the values of P, A0, and r,bcan 0.1

he readily found by visual inspection. A single chart (in C

0 0.1 0.2 c.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
dual form) concerns a specified PHE configuration. P = IAt,/Atm,_l
Using a numhcr of these charts, we can quickly find an
appropriate PHE configuration for a given design task. Fig. 4. Parallel-flow, one-pass-one-pass plate heat exchanger
(n = 24, r = 12/12, flow arrangement 20).
Owing to space limitations, charts are presented here
for only a few, 24-channel, PHE configurations (24.12/
12.N1, 24.12/12.20, 24.12/3.N0, 24.4/4.20, 24.4/4.N0).

1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0

1
0.9 NTU 0.9 NTU
0.6 1.4 0.8
0.7 1.4
0.1
0.6 0.6
2 At 2.0 At 2.0
At 0.5 2 a.5
mox 0.4 At
mOx 0.4
0.3 0.3
0.2 5.0 5.0
02
0.1 10.0 iao
0.1
0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 a5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 a5 a6 0.7 oJ3 3.9 1

0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.1 0.7

0.6 0.6

-+ 0.5 +- 0.5

[" 0.4 'n 0.4

0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1

0 0
s 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
P = I At, /At,,, I P : I At, /Atma,I
Fig. 3. Counterflow, one-pass-one-pass plate heat exchanger Fig. 5. One-pass-four-pass plate heat exchanger (n = 24, r =
(n = 24, Y = 12/12, flow arrangement Nl). 1213, flow arrangement NO).
 53

Discussion

Based on the results for about 150 different PHE

1.4
configurations, a detailed analysis has been carried out.
A wide range of parameters (R = 0.1 - 10, NTU, = O.l-
30) and different numbers of channels (n = 8, 16,24,
100,200) wcrc taken into account.
The analysis of the results was performed with re-
spect to two types of relationships:
(1) the influence of the parameters R and NTU, on
the values of AO,, P and $ for specified PHE configu-
0.: 0:z 0:3 0.4 a'5 i6 0.7 0.8 0.9
rations;
(2) the influence of the various PHE configurations
(specified by the number of channels, n, the number of
passes, i, and i,, and the flow arrangements) on AO,, P
0.6 and I/Ifor constant values of R and NTU,.
mAt - 0.5 Whereas the former relationship can easily be seen in
AtI” 0.4 the charts, the latter needs detailed analysis. Four quan-
0.3 tities were investigated to show the influence of the
0.2 various PHE configurations on AO,, P and $. They
0.1 were:
" (1) the flow arrangement (related to the inlet posi-
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 Oh 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
P = I At, /Atmax ) tion for each fluid stream);
(2) the number of channels;
Fig. 6. Three-pass-three-pass plate heat exchanger (n = 24, (3) the number of passes, iA and i, (pass arrange-
r = 4/4, flow arrangement 20).
ments); and
(4) the parameter vp.
The parameter vp is defined as the ratio of the
number of countercurrent plates (the number of plates
for which the adjacent fluid streams flow in opposite
1.0
directions) to the total number of thermal plates (the
0.9 NTU two outer plates do not transfer heat, while the remain-
0.8 ing plates, known as thermal plates, participate in the
1.4
0.7 heat transfer). The flow arrangements, 20 and 21, refer
0.6 to the parallel-flow arrangement, whereas NO and Nl
ht, 0.5
2.0
concern the counterflow. For i, = 1 and iR = 1, only
*tmo.
0.L two flow arrangements were distinguished, 20 (for par-
0.3 allel flow) and Nl (for counterflow). In accordance
50
0.2 with the above we have
10.0
0.1

0 A&,,, + = f(n, i,, i,, vp, llow arrangement)

0 0:1 0.2 0.'3 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

0.9
InJluence of the _&v arrangement
0.8

0.7
Purallel -flow PHEs (20 and 21 flow arrangements)
0.6
(a) For i, > 3 and iB > 3, the A&,,, P and + values
0.5
differ slightly, independently of the parameter vp (the
0.4
differences do not exceed 2%).
0.3
(b) For iA = 2 and i,>2 or iA >2 and i,=2, the
0.2
heat transfer becomes more efficient the higher the
0.1
value of the parameter vp, that is, the flow arrangement
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 leading to the highest value of vp is recommended.
P : I At, /At,,, I (c) For i,=l and &>I or i,=l and i,>l, the
Fig. 7. Three-pass-three-pass plate heat exchanger (n = 24, trends are the same as in (b). The differences in the
r = 4/4, flow arrangement NO). values of A&,, and $ for the flow arrangements analysed
54
decrease with increasing number of passes of the other
fluid.
(d) For i, = 1 and i, = 1. there is only one type of
flow arrangement, 21; the parameter vp = 0. and the
heat transfer is the least efficient.
CounterJow PHEs (NO and NI flow arrangements)
The trends are the same as for parallel-flow PHEs,
but the differences in AO,,, + and P are greater. For the
same vp, the counterflow PHE is better than the paral-
lel-flow PHE. The best is the counterflow 1- 1 (one-
pass-one-pass) PHE arrangement, that is, i, = 1,
i,= 1, VP= 1.
Influence of the number of channels
Plate heat exchangers with a constant number of
passes and a given flow arrangement were compared for
different numbers of channels (n = 8, 16,20, 24,40,
80,200). Considering those PHEs with a constant num-
ber of passes, we could assume that the NTU, values
referring to a single channel were almost the same, for
R and NTU, constant, despite the variable number of
channels.
Under most operating conditions, the influence of the
number of channels on the values of A&,,, P and $ can
be neglected for n > 24. The differences in AQ, and P
do not exceed 1% (for n = 24-200); for $ they are
greater (a few per cent). It is not possible to observe
these differences in the charts for n > 24. The maximum
deviations are found for NTU > 2. In conclusion, the
At?,, P and IJ values obtained for n = 24 (and very
exactly for n = 40) can be applied in designing indus-
trial PHEs where the number of channels is large
(n = 200,400 and more). The flow arrangement and the
number of passes must be kept the same as for a
representative PHE of n = 24.
Influence of pass arrangements
The results obtained for the 24-channel PHEs, as
representative of other PHEs, were analysed in detail.
All possible configurations concerning the number of
passes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12) and flow arrangements
(counterflow and parallel flow) were investigated. The
selection of an appropriate PHE configuration (taking
into account the A@,, P and II/ values) was determined
by two quantities: the number of passes, iA and i,, and
the parameter vr.
Parallel-Jlow PHEs
(a) For iA 2 3 and i, > 3, the change in the number
of passes and vp results in only small changes in the
values of A&,,, P and Ic,(below 0.5%). This may be seen
in the charts drawn for the configurations 12.- 12, 6-6,
4-4, 3-3. 12-6, 6-12, 12-4, 6-3, 336, 443 and 334.
(b) For iA = 2 and i, 2 2 or iA > 2 and iB = 2, the
differences in the values of A&,,, P and Ic,do not exceed
a few per cent. These configurations are more appropri-
ate than those mentioned in (a). The arrangements for
higher values of vr are more efficient, although the
graphs for the values of vi, differing only slightly practi-
cally overlap (2-6, 6-2, 2-4 and 4-2 configurations).
(For instance, the 2-6 configuration with vp = 12123
and the 2-4 configuration with vp = 1 l/23 yield almost
the same results). For larger differences between the
values of vr, the configuration for higher v,, proves
better (for instance, the 2-6 configuration with vp = 12/
23 is more efficient than the 2-2 with vp = l/23).
(c) For iA = 1 and i,>2 or i,>2 and i,=l, the
heat transfer proves to be very efficient. As the parame-
ter vp increases, the values of A&, P and II, also become
higher. The same trend, although less pronounced, is
observed when the number of passes is increased. For
NTU, > 2, the 2-1 configuration proved worse than
the 6- 1 and 4-l arrangements, because of the lower
number of passes. The parameter vr was kept constant
for the configurations analysed. However, the 2-l
configuration is better than the 3-l because of the
higher value of vp. The charts for 12- 1, 6- 1, 4-I (and
2- 1 for NTU, < 2) overlap for constant v,,. The 12- 1
and 6-l configurations seem to be the best. The above
relationships are also valid for the arrangements 1- 12,
1-6, 1-4, l-3 and 1-2.
(d) For iA= 1 and i, = 1, the parameter vp is equal
to 0 and, consequently, the values of A&,, P and $ are
the worst in comparison with other configurations.
Counterflow PHEs
(a) For i, = i B = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12, the following
influences were observed:
(i) An increase in the number of passes leading to
two opposing tendencies: a rise in the fluid velocity in
a single channel (profitable effect), and a decrease in
the parameter vp (negative influence). Sometimes, these
two trends neutralize each other, especially when the
changes in the fluid velocities and the parameter vp are
of a similar order. For these cases, the charts overlap
(for the 12- 12 configuration where vr = 12/23 and for
the 3-3 configuration where vp = 21123, or for the 6-6
where vp = 18/23 and the 444 where vp = 20/23). If the
value of one of these parameters (fluid velocity or
vp) changes only slightly, whereas the second parame-
ter changes much more, the influence (positive) of
the latter is much stronger. For instance, the 2-2
configuration with vp = 22123 was better than the 3-3
configuration with v,, = 2123 (the influence of the
change in the parameter vp is stronger than that of the
change in the pass arrangement); the 6-6 configura-
tion with vr = 18/23 proves to be better than the 2-2
with vp = 22123 (the change in the number of passes is
greater).
 55

(ii) An increase in the number of passes leading to of AO,, P and IL, independently of the value of v,,. For
two similar tendencies: an increase in the fluid velocity i, < 3 and i,, < 3, the influence of vp is much greater
in a single channel, and an increase in v,,. Both trends (with increasing v,, the effectiveness is higher). Similar
are profitable (for the values of AO,, P and $). trends exist for the counterflow arrangement (Nl and
(b) For4>i,>land4>i,>l,i,#i,,anincrease NO, as in Fig. l), though the differences are greater,
in the number of passes improves the heat transfer especially for R = I and NTUR > 2.
(higher A@,, P and $). although the differences (mostly (6) The influence of the number of channels for the
for R = 0.8-2 and NTU, > 2) are small. The influence values of AO,, P and ti can be neglected for n > 24.
of a change in vp is stronger than an increase in the The differences in the values of P and AO, for n = 24,
number of passes. (The 2-2 configuration for vp = 22123 40, 100 and 200 do not exceed 1%; for $ they are
proves to be much better than the 2- 6 for vp = 14/23 or greater (a few per cent). The values of AO,, P and $
the 4-2 for vp = 12/23.) obtained for n = 24 (and very exactly for n = 40) can
(c) For i, > 4 and i, > 4, for vp constant, the results be applied in designing industrial PHEs, where the
are almost the same as those obtained for i, = 4 and number of channels is large. The R, NTU, and NTU,
i, = 4. The influence of a further increase in the number quantities must be kept the same as for n = 24.
of passes is insignificant. (7) The results (Atr,,, , P and $ values) obtained for a
counterflow or parallel-flow heat exchanger (considered
as a two-channel exchanger) can be applied to the l-1
Conclusions configuration (ii\ = 1, i, = 1) of a plate heat exchanger.
The accuracy is better for larger numbers of channels
(1) The counterflow l-l pass arrangement and for lower NTUa values.
(i,, = 1, iB = 1, vp = 1) yields the highest effectiveness.
The parallel-flow I- 1 configuration (i,, = 1, i, = 1,
vp = 0) yields the lowest effectiveness. The results for Nomenclature
the counterflow type are always better than those for
the parallel-flow type. ad dimensionless parameter in cqn. (3)
(2) If the number of channels is large, the heat c flow stream heat capacity rate, W/OK
transfer coefficient may be too low (because of the low Gil coefficients in exponential approximation,
fluid velocity in a single channel). In this case an i-i pass eqn. (6)
arrangement should be chosen (with i > 1), taking into E thermal effectiveness (related to fluid of
account two parameters--the number of passes and lower heat capacity)
v,,. If vp is constant, the configurations with the larger F surface arca of heat transfer, m2
number of passes are recommended. If vp changes, two F, surface area of single plate, m2
influences (vp and the number of passes) must be consid- h length of single channel, m
ered. If iA > 4 and i, > 4, with vp constant, the results for number of passes
i, = 4 and i, = 4 (4-4 pass arrangement) can be used for k heat transfer coefficient, W/m2 K
i, > 4 and i, > 4. The selection of the number of passes m number of channels in parallel in single
is dependent on the admissible pressure drops. bundle
(3) Independently of the flow type, two parameters IV number of plates
affect the values of AO,,, P and $: the number of NTU =kF/C, number of heat transfer units for
passes, and the parameter vp. When the two parameters entire heat exchanger
increase, the effectiveness also increases. If the number total number of channels in PHE
of passes increases and vp decreases, or vice versa, these =AO,, thermal eft‘ectiveness referred to
two influences neutralize each other. cold fluid B
(4) For the iA < 2 and i, < 2 parallel-flow type of e heat flux, W
PHE, the configurations with the higher values of vp are R GIG,, ratio of heat capacities
more efficient. For i,, > 3 and i, > 3, independently of r ratio of mA/mB
the parameter vp, the results obtained for many combi- t temperature, K
nations of 3, 4 and 5 or more passes give approximately At temperature difference, K
the same heat transfer. The differences are less than At,, log mean temperature difference, K
0.5% (for 12-12, 6-6, 4-4, 12-4, 3-6, 6-3, 4-3, 3-4, At, mean temperature difference, K
etc. pass arrangements). At,,, maximum temperature difference in ex-
(5) The inlet positions of the fluids A and B for ihe changer, K
parallel-flow arrangement (20 or 21, as in Fig. 1), for X linear coordinate, m
iA > 3 and i, 2 3, have very little influence on the values z =x/h, dimensionless coordinate, eqn. (4)
56

YI9 Y2 coefficients in exponential approximation, 6 B. W. Jackson and R. A. Troupe, Plate heat exchanger design
eons. (61, (7) by E-NTIJ method; Chem. Eng. Prog. Symp. Ser. No. 64, 62,
e ‘Ct - tmin)l(trnx- rmin>3 dimensionless (1966) 185-190.
7 J. Mariott, Where and how to use plate heat exchangers,
temperature Chew. Eng., 78 (1971) 127-133.
Aetn =At,/At,,,, dimensionless mean tempera- 8 T. Zaleski and A. Jarzebski, Effectiveness of plate heat ex-
ture difference changers with the channels connected in series, Inl. Apar.
Chmz., 2 (1974) 15-17 (in Polish).
AeB =AtalArmax, dimensionless temperature
9 T. Zaleski and E. Wardas, Analysis of the models of plate heat
difference for cold fluid
exchangers of various channel interconnections. II. Numerical
AelI? =At,,/At,,,, dimensionless log mean tem- method and thermal calculations, Inl. Chem., VIII (2) (1978)
perature difference 41 I-423 (in Polish).
“P ratio of number of countercurrent plates to 10 H. Martin. WSirmeiibertrasw. Thieme. Stuttgart. 1988.
total number of plates II E. U. Schliinder (ed.), I?eot Exchanger &sign Handbook,
Hemisphere, New York, 1980 and 1986.
* =At,lAt,,, correction factor
12 A. Pignotti and P. 1. Tamborenea, Thermal effectiveness of
multipass plate exchangers. ht. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 31
Subscripts
(1988) 1983-1991.
A hot fluid 13 S. G. Kandlikar and R. K. Shah, Asymptotic effectiveness
B cold fluid NTU formulas for multipass plate heat exchangers, J. Heat
i, .i channels Transfer, 111 (1989) 314-321.
in inlet 14 S. G. Kandlikar and R. K. Shah, Multipass plate heat ex-
changers-effectiveness-NTU results and guidelines for se-
mitt, max minimum and maximum temperature in ex-
lecting pass arrangements, J. Heat Transfer, 111 (1989)
changer 300-313.
out outlet 15 J. D. Domingos, Analysis of complex assemblies of heat
0 single channel or one plate exchangers, ht. J. Heat Mass Trawfer, 12, (1969) 537-548.
1 fluid 1 16 VDI- Wtimeatlas, Berechnungsblltter fiir den Warmeiiber-
gang, VDI-Verlag, Diisseldorf, 6th edn., 1991.
2 fluid 2
17 W. Roetzel and B. Spang, Verbessertes Diagramm zur Berech-
nung von Warmeiibertragern, Wcrme- Stojjiibertrag., 2.5
(1990) 259-264.
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I W. Kays and A. London, Compact Heat Exchangers, (1964) 901-919.
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design method for plate heat exchangers, Chem. Eng. Prog., 59 20 A. Settari and S. Venart, Approximate method for the solu-
(7) (1963) 57-61. tion to the equations for parallel and mixed-flow multichannel
4 U. Mennicke, Wlrmetechnische Eigenschaften der verschiede- heat exchangers, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 15 (1972) 819-
nen Schaltungen van Plattenwarmeaustauschern, Kiiltetechnik, 829.
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