Transient Response of the Counterflow Heat Exchanger

Abstract

The exit fluid temperature responses are presented for a unit step increase in the entrance temperature of either of the fluids of a counterflow heat exchanger. The exit temperature response histories are functions of four parameters, three of which are commonly used to define the steady-state temperature distributions in the exchanger. The responses are found using a finite difference method and are represented by simple empirical equations for a range of the four parameters believed appropriate for many technical applications.