An analytical study of laminar counterflow double‐pipe heat exchangers

Abstract

Abstract An orthogonal expansion technique for solving a new class of counterflow heat transfer problems is developed and applied to the detailed study of laminar flow concentric tube heat exchangers. The exchanger problem is solved for fully developed laminar velocity profiles, negligible longitudinal conduction in the fluid streams and in the exchanger walls, and with fluid properties which are independent of the temperature. A description of the variation of the local Nusselt numbers and the temperature at the wall between the two streams is given. Also reported are bulk temperature changes in the two streams and mean overall Nusselt numbers. It is shown that for long exchangers, which are of some industrial importance, asymptotic Nusselt numbers exist in counterflow as in single‐phase and cocurrent systems. Numerical values of asymptotic Nusselt numbers are reported for a wide range of parameters. Comparisons are made with single‐stream solutions such as the Graetz problem, with empirical correlations of experimental data, and with cocurrent flow exchangers. To solve this problem it was necessary to derive new orthogonality relations, and also expressions for determining positive and negative sets of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Satisfaction of inlet boundary conditions at both ends of counterflow exchangers requires a complete set of eigenfunctions and thus one must use both the positive and negative sets.