INT. ~ .

HEAT I~%SS TRANSFER

0735-1933/87 $3.00 + .00
Vol. 14, pp. 665-672, 1987 @Pergamon Journals Ltd. Printed in the United States

ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONFOR A DOUBLE-PIPE HEAT EXCHANGER

WITH NON-ADIABATIC CONDITION AT THE OUTERSURFACE
R. C. Prasad
University of New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4L5
(Co~,~nicated by J.P. Hartnett and W.J. Minkowycz)

ABSTRACT
Analytical solutions for the steady state temperatures of the heat
exchanging fluids are obtained as a function of the position along
the length in a double-pipe heat exchanger with non-adiabatic
condition at the outside surface of the outer pipe. Counter-fl~ and
pafallel-flow cases have been analysed. Analytical expressions for
heat transfer to or from the outside are also presented.

Introduction
A double-pipe heat exchanger is the simpest of all heat exchangers due
to simple construction, easy maintenance and the ability to handle pressurized
fluids. I t is commonly used for applications requiring 20 m2 or less surface
area [ l ] . Also, this type of heat exchanger has been widely used [2] in
research laboratories. The analytical study leading to LMTDand NTU methods in
such heat exchangers are presented in most text-books [3]. However, these
analyses are valid only in case of perfect insulation resulting in an
adiabatic condition at the outside surface of the outer pipe. In this paper,
analytical solutions for the steady state temperatures of the heat exchanging
fluids along the length of the pipe are obtained for a double-pipe heat
exchanger with non-adiabatic condition at the outer surface. In this case, the
fluid in the annular space exchanges heat with the fluid in the inner pipe as
well as the outside environment. The inlet temperatures of the fluids in the
inner pipe and the annulus provide necessary boundary conditions, xpressions
for heat transferred to or from the outside are also developed. Both, counterflow and parallel-flow heat exchangers have been analysed. The solutions are
applicable to many real situations where a double-pipe heat exchanger is
665

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R.C. Prasad

Vol. 14, No. 6

either imperfectly insulated or uninsulated and, therefore, exchanges heat

with the outside environment.
Theoretical Analysis - Counter-flow Heat Exchanger
Theoretical

analysis for a double-pipe counter-flow heat exchanger

(Figure-la) has been carried out with the following assumptions:

I.

Mass flow rates mI and m2 are constant.

2.

Inlet fluid temperatures Tli and T2i are constant.

3.

Temperature TO of the outside environment is constant.

4.

Fluid properties do not change.

5.

The overall heat transfer coefficients Ul (between the fluid streams) and

6.

U (between the annulus and the outside) remain constant.

o
Tl(X) and T2(x) represent average fluid temperatures at any section of the
inner and annular fluid streams respectively.

Mathematical Model
Energy balance over a differential

length dx of a counter-flow heat

exchanger (Figure-la) results in the following mathematical model:

(1)

Inner pipe :

mlCiTl + PIUI(T2-TI )

Annulus

m2c2T2 + PIUI(T2-TI ) + PoUo(T2-To)

Boundary conditions :

= 0

T2(O) = T2i ,

(2)

= 0

(3)

TI(L) = Tli

Introduction of an incremental temperature, e(x), defined by

e(x)
in Eq. ( l ) ,

(4)

T(x) - TO

(2) and (3) y i e l d s

the f o l l o w i n g

differential

equations

and

boundary conditions:
PIUIe2 + mlCl61 - PiUlel

= 0

m2c262 + (PiUl + PoUo)e2

e2(O) = e2i

PIUlel

(5)
= 0

el(L) = eli

(6)
(7)

By combining Eq. (5) and (6) and eliminating e2, the following equation in el
is obtained:
el + Yel + Bel
Y =
=

(8a)

PoUo/(m2c2 ) + PIUI /(m2c2) - P1Ul/(mlc I)

(8b)

- PiUiPoUo/(mlclm2c2 )

(8c)

Vol. 14, No. 6

SOLUTION FOR A DO[BLE-PIPE HEAT ~

'iT11' ~'-ml
I I
II

X-O

,u; L
_J
[ Tli 'Tll-I

IT, I
1 I

o,

667

o, Oo

-/~l

tl

X:L

(a) Counter-flow

X-O

(b) Parallel-flow
FIG. l

Schematic representation of double-pipe heat exchanger

Analytical Solution
The analytical solution for el(x) from Eq. (8) is
el(X)
where,

= A exp(xlX) + B exp(x2x)

Xl ' x2 = [_y + (y2 _ 4B)]/2

(9a)
(9b)

Substitution of el(X) from Eq. (9a) as well as the f i r s t derivative of el(x)

into Eq. (5) yields the following solution for e2(x):
e2(x)
where,

= A (l - xiN) exp(xlX) + B (l - x2N) exp(x2x)

N = mlCl/(PiUl)

(lOa)
(lOb)

By applying the boundary conditions from Eq. (7) into Eq. (9a) and (lOa),
the constants A and B are determined to be
e2i exp(x2L) - eli (l - x2 N)
A =

(ll)
[x 2 exp(xiL) - xI exp(x2L)] N + [exp(x2L) - exp(xiL)]

e2i exp(xlL) - eli (I - xI N)

B

(12)

[x 2 exp(xlL) - xI exp(x2L)] N + [exp(x2L) - exp(xlL)]

Heat Transferred to the Outside
The amount of heat transferred to the outside through the outer wall is
given by

668

R.C. Prasad

VOI. 14, NO. 6

Qo =oI

PoUoO2(X) dx

(13)

Substituting for o2(x) from Eq. (I0) into Eq. (13) and integrating over the
length of the heat exchanger gives the following expression for Qo:
Qo = UoPo [A(l - ~I N)(exp(~IL) - 1)/Xl
+ B(l - x2 N)(exp(~2L) - I)/~ 2] ,

Uo #= 0

(14)

Theoretical Analysis - Parallel-flow Heat Exchanger

Following a similar theoretical analysis as above for a double-pipe
parallel-flow heat exchanger (Figure-lb), analytical solutions for the
temperatures, Tl(X) and T2(x), as well as the heat transferred, Qo' are
obtained. The results are summarized in this section.
Mathematical Model
Inner pipe : -mlCiT I + PIUI(T2-TI )
Annulus

= 0

m2c2t2 + PIUI(T2-TI ) + PoUo(T2-To)

Boundary conditions :

Tl(O) = Tli ,

(15)
= 0

T2(O) = T2i

(16)
(17)

Analytical Solution
Solutions for the incremental temperature e(x) = T(x) - T are given by
o
o1(x)

= A exp(~ix) + B exp(~2x)

(18)

o2(x)

= A (I + ~l N) exp(xlX) + B (l + x2N) exp(x2x)

(19)

where,
e2i - eli (I + ~2 N)
A =

(20a)
(x I

~2) N

e2i - eli (I + Xl N)
B

(20b)

(~l

~2) N

~I" ~2 = [-Y C (y2 _ 4B)~]/2

(20c)

Vol. 14, No. 6

SOI/]TIGNPSRA~PIPEHEAT~

669

= PoUo/(m2c2) + PiUl/(m2c2 ) PoUo/(mlCl )

(20d)

B = PlUiPoUo/(mlclm2c2)

(20e)

N = mlCl/(PiUl)

(2Of)

Heat Transferred to the Outside

Integrating Eq. (13) with e2(x) from Eq. (19), the analytical expression
for Qo is found to be
Qo = UoPo [A(l + ~l N)(exp(~IL) l ) / ~ l
+ B(l + ~2 N)(exp(~2L) " I)/~2] '

Uo =~= 0

(21)

Calculations and Validation

Using the solutions presented here, numerical calculations are carried
out to predict the temperatures of the heat exchanging f l ui ds with the
following data:
L = l.O m

Dl

= 0.05 m

Do

= 0.075 m

mlc I = lO00 J . m i n - l . K - l ,

m2c2 = 1500 J.min-l.K l

Tli

= 20.00 C

T2i

= lO0.O C

Ul

= 25.0 W.m-2.K-l

Uo

= ]0.0 W.m-2.K-l

Results are presented for counter-flow (Figure-2a) as well as parallelflow (Figure-2b) for TO = 0 C and 400 C along with those for an adiabatic
condition (Uo = 0). Tablel shows the calculated exit temperatures, Tie and
T2e, of the f l u i d s . Heat loss or gain, Ql and Q2' for the inner and the
annulus f l u i d respectively are also calculated using

and

Ql = mlCl(Tle - T l i )

(22a)

Q2 = m2c2(T2e - T2i)"

(22b)

Heat transferred to or from the outside environment is ~alculated u s i n g

Eq. (14) or (21) as applicable. The algebraic sum of Ql" Q2 and Qo is found
to be zero in each case and provides validation of the present analysis.

670

R.C. Prasad

Vol. 14, No. 6

odiabatic

100

adiabatic
To=O C

100

To= ,~OC

~o

~,.,9o

8O

8O
40" '

40"

~. 30

~3o

20

20

I
0.2

i
0.4

I
0.6

I
0.2

l
0.8

X, m

(a) Counter-flow

I
0.4

I
0.6
X, m

i
0.8

(b) P a r a l l e l - f l o w
FIG. 2

Temperature of the heat exchanging f l u i d s along the length of the pipe

Comparison with NTU-Method

Solutions for adiabatic conditions at the outside surface of the heat
exchanger are compared with those obtained by NTU-method. The inner f l u i d
e x i t temperatures, Tle, of 35.75 o C and 35.59 o C for counter-flow and
p a r a l l e l - f l o w r e s p e c t i v e l y as determined by NTU-method [3] using (mC)min= mlc 1
are found to be in exact agreement with those obtained by the present method.
Conclusion
Analytical

solutions for the temperature of the heat exchanging f l u i d s

along the length of a counter-flow and p a r a l e l l - f l o w double-pipe heat

exchangers have been obtained for non-adiabatic conditions at the outside
surface of the outer pipe. Expressions for heat transferred to the outside
are also presented. Exact agreement with NTU-method is shown in case of
adiabatic conditions at the outside surface.

VOI. 14, No. 6

SOLUTION FOR A D O U ~ - P I P E

HEAT EXCHAN(~R

671

TABLE - 1
Heat Balance C a l c u l a t i o n
Parallel-flow

Counter-flow
T

Adiab.

Adiab.

0 C

40 o C

U= 0
o

0 C

40 o C

U = 0
o

mlCl ~

I000.00

I000.00

I000.00

I000.00

I000.00

I000.00

m2c24

1500.00

1500.00

1500.00

1500.00

1500.00

1500.00

U1

25.00

25.00

25.00

25.00

25.00

25.00

U
o
Tli

I0.00

lO.O0

0.00

I0,00

lO.O0

0.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

Tle

34.89

35.25

35.75*

34.68

35.06

35.59*

T2i

I00.00

I00.00

I00.00

I00.00

I00.00

I00.00

T2e

81.54

84.90

89.50

81.71

85.06

89.61

Q1

248.19

254.11

262.49

244.63

250.96

259.81

Q2

-461.60

-377.42

-262.49

-457.35

-373.53

-259.81

Qo

213.41

123.31

0.00

212.72

122.57

0.00

~e

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

In J . m i n - l . K "I

,"

* Exact agreement with NTU-method [ 3 ] .

Acknowledgement

The work was performed under a program of studies funded by the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada under Grant Number A5477.
Nomenclature
A

a constant

a constant

s p e c i f i c heat of f l u i d ,

J . K g - I . K -I

diameter of pipe, m

length of pipe, m

mass flow r a t e ,

defined in Eq. (lOb) and (2Of)

perimeter of pipe, m

heat flow r a t e , W

temperature, C

Kg.s -1,

Kg.min-1

672

R.C. Prasad

first

Vol.

14, No. 6

d e r i v a t i v e of T(x) with respect to x = dT/dx

overall heat t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t ,

W.m-2.K -I

distance along the length of the pipe, m

Greek Symbols
B

defined in Eq. (8c) and (20e)

defined in Eq. (8b) and (20d)

defined in Eq. (9b) and (20c)

incremental temperature = T(x) - To

first

d e r i v a t i v e of e(x) with respect to x = do/dx

second d e r i v a t i v e of e(x) with respect to x = d2e/dx 2

Subscripts

exit

inlet

outside

inner pipe

f l u i d in the annular space

or

outer pipe
or

f l u i d in the inner pipe

References
I.

R. K. Shah, C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of Heat Exchangers, in Heat Exchangers Thermal Hydraulic Fundamentals and Design, Ed. S. Kakac, A. E. Bergles
and F. Mayinger, p. 9. McGraw-Hill (1981).

2.

A. E. Bergles, Progress in Heat and Mass Transfer, volume 1, p. 331.

Pergamon Press (1969).

3.

J. P. Holman, Heat Transfer, 6th Ed., p. 536, p. 545. McGraw-Hill (1986).