HX Design Challenge
Heat Exchanger Design Challenge The objective of this project was to design a shell-and-tube heat exchanger that meets the heat requirement of 170,453 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠, and with consideration that the optimum overall heattransfer coefficient is 285 𝑊/𝑚2⋅˚𝐶. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger is used to heat benzene by having hot water flow through a single-pass shell. A counter-current flow was used because it is more efficient. The pressure-drop considerations of the benzene in the tubes are fixed at a maximum velocity of 1.2 m/s. Due to space limitations, the length of the heat exchanger must not exceed 6 m. The tubes used for the design are ¾ in OD 17 BWG tubes. Segmental baffles, or 25% cut baffles, were included to ensure that the water will flow across the tubes, thus enhancing the heat transfer. The target overall heat-transfer coefficient, 𝑈, is 10-25% higher than the optimal 𝑈 to ensure that the heat requirement of 170,453 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 is met. Copper tubes were u...
