HEAT-EXCHANGER DESIGN THROUGH PARAMETER PLOTTING

A new heat exchanger design procedure is presented. It can be used wit h any existing state-of-the-art exchanger rating program. Rather than systematically exploring the whole of the available range of exchanger sizes (diameters and tube lengths), it determines the relationships b etween duty and tube length, pressure drop and tube length, etc. for a range of diameters. This information is then used to clearly indicate the full range of geometries that are suitable for a given duty and g iven constraints. As the example presented in the paper shows, this ca n be achieved by undertaking very few rating calculations (typically f our to six). Conventional design procedures can involve hundreds of su ch calculations. The graphical representation provides the designer wi th clear guidance regarding the influence of allowable pressure drop o n required geometry. It can also be used to appraise rapidly the amoun t of thermal over design introduced through the selection of a specifi c geometry.