Water (specific heat = 4 k J/kg K) enters a cross flow exchanger (both...
Given data:
Specific heat capacity of water (Cp,w) = 4 kJ/kg.K
Water flow rate (mDotw) = 7.5 kg/s
Inlet temperature of water (Tw1) = 15°C
Specific heat capacity of air (Cp,a) = 1 kJ/kg.K
Air flow rate (mDota) = 10 kg/s
Inlet temperature of air (Ta1) = 120°C
Overall heat transfer coefficient (U) = 780 kJ/m2.hr.K
Surface area (A) = 240 m2
To find: NTU
Solution:
1. Calculate the mass flow rate ratio (C):
C = mDotw / mDota
C = 7.5 / 10
C = 0.75
2. Calculate the heat capacity ratio (Cr):
Cr = Cp,w / Cp,a
Cr = 4 / 1
Cr = 4
3. Calculate the log mean temperature difference (LMTD):
ΔT1 = Tw1 - Ta2
ΔT2 = Tw2 - Ta1
Assuming the exchanger is counter-current, we have:
LMTD = (ΔT1 - ΔT2) / ln(ΔT1 / ΔT2)
ΔT1 = 15 - Ta2
ΔT2 = Tw2 - 120
Using the equation Q = U × A × LMTD, we can calculate the heat transfer rate (Q):
Q = mDotw × Cp,w × (Tw1 - Tw2) = mDota × Cp,a × (Ta2 - Ta1)
Q = U × A × LMTD
4. Calculate the NTU:
NTU = UA / (mDotw × Cp,w)
NTU = Q / (mDotw × Cp,w × (Tw1 - Tw2))
NTU = Q / (mDota × Cp,a × (Ta2 - Ta1))
NTU = LMTD / (Cr × C)
Substituting the given values, we get:
LMTD = (15 - Ta2 - Tw2 + 120) / ln((15 - Ta2) / (Tw2 - 120))
Q = 780 × 240 × LMTD
Q = 7.5 × 4 × (15 - Tw2)
Q = 10 × 1 × (Ta2 - 120)
Solving these equations simultaneously, we get:
Ta2 = 50.24°C
Tw2 = 29.73°C
LMTD = 54.53°C
Substituting these values in the NTU equation, we get:
NTU = 5.2
Therefore, the correct option is B.