Heat Transfer - Engineering

Q1:

The ratio of velocity head to tube side return loss in case of a multipass shell and tube heat exchanger is

A 2

B 1/2

C 4

D 1/4

ANS:D - 1/4

In a multipass shell and tube heat exchanger, the ratio of velocity head to tube side return loss is typically 1/2. Explanation:

  • The velocity head represents the kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid and is given by the formula: v2/2g, where v is the velocity of the fluid and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
  • The tube side return loss refers to the pressure drop experienced by the fluid as it flows through the tubes of the heat exchanger and then returns to the inlet.
  • In multipass shell and tube heat exchangers, the flow path of the fluid is typically divided into multiple passes through the tubes, which can reduce the pressure drop compared to a single-pass configuration.
  • The ratio of velocity head to tube side return loss in a multipass shell and tube heat exchanger is approximately 1/2, indicating that the kinetic energy of the fluid is roughly half the pressure drop experienced by the fluid as it returns through the tubes.
Therefore, the correct ratio is 1/2.