Heat Transfer Coefficients Exchangers

Reference data and engineering information about heat transfer coefficients exchangers for thermodynamics applications.

heattransfercoefficientsexchangersCalculator

Overview

Engineering reference data for Heat Transfer Coefficients Exchangers in thermodynamics.

Key Formulas

First Law

$\Delta U = Q - W$

Energy is conserved — heat added minus work done.

Ideal Gas Law

$PV = nRT$

Relates pressure, volume, and temperature of an ideal gas.

Carnot Efficiency

$\eta = 1 - T_C/T_H$

Maximum efficiency between two temperatures.

Variables

Symbol	Description	Unit
$U$	Internal energy	J
$Q$	Heat	J
$W$	Work	J
$P$	Pressure	Pa
$V$	Volume	m³
$T$	Temperature	K

The following table provides typical overall heat transfer coefficient (U) ranges for various heat exchanger configurations and applications. These values are used in practice for preliminary design estimates and equipment selection.

21 rows

Typical Overall Heat Transfer Coefficients (U) for Common Heat Exchanger Designs
Type	Application	Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient - U -(W/(m²K))	Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient - U -(Btu/(ft²·°F·h))
Tubular, heating or cooling	Gases at atmospheric pressure inside & outside tubes	5 - 35	1 - 6
Tubular, heating or cooling	Gases at high pressure inside & outside tubes	150 - 500	25 - 90
Tubular, heating or cooling	Liquid outside (inside) & gas at atmospheric pressure inside (outside) tubes	15 - 70	3 - 15
Tubular, heating or cooling	Gas at high pressure inside & liquid outside tubes	200 - 400	35 - 70
Tubular, heating or cooling	Liquids inside & outside tubes	150 - 1200	25 - 200
Tubular, heating or cooling	Steam outside & liquid inside tubes	300 - 1200	50 - 200
Tubular, condensation	Steam outside & cooling water inside tubes	1500 - 4000	250 - 700
Tubular, condensation	Organic vapors or ammonia outside & cooling water inside tubes	300 - 1200	50 - 200
Tubular, evaporation	steam outside & high-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation	300 - 900	50 - 150
Tubular, evaporation	steam outside & low-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation	600 - 1700	100 - 300
Tubular, evaporation	steam outside & liquid inside tubes, forced circulation	900 - 3000	150 - 500
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of water	600 - 750	100 - 130
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of liquid light hydrocarbons	400 - 550	70 - 95
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of tar	30 - 60	5 - 10
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of air or flue gas	60 - 180	10 - 30
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of hydrocarbon gas	200 - 450	35 - 80
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Condensation of low pressure steam	700 - 850	125 - 150
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Condensation of organic vapors	350 - 500	65 - 90
Plate heat exchanger	liquid to liquid	1000 - 4000	150 - 700
Spiral heat exchanger	liquid to liquid	700 - 2500	125 - 500
Spiral heat exchanger	condensing vapor to liquid	900 - 3500	150 - 700

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Interactive Charts

Arithmetic and Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference

References

Original Source

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com