Advanced Air Heat Exchanger Calculator

Formulas Used in Thermal Analysis

The calculations performed by this application rely on fundamental principles of heat transfer and thermodynamics for gas-to-gas systems:

• Heat Capacity Rate ($C$): Calculated as $C = m \times c_p$, where $m$ is mass flow rate and $c_p$ is specific heat capacity of air ($1005 \, J/kg \cdot K$).
• Heat Transfer Rate ($Q$): Evaluated through energy balance on fluid streams: $Q = C_h (T_{hi} - T_{ho})$ or $Q = C_c (T_{co} - T_{ci})$.
• Log Mean Temperature Difference ($LMTD$): Configured dynamically for counter-flow or parallel flow via $LMTD = \frac{\Delta T_1 - \Delta T_2}{\ln(\Delta T_1 / \Delta T_2)}$.
• Fouling Adjustment & NTU: Adjusted overall coefficient incorporates thermal resistance from fouling, while Number of Transfer Units is given by $NTU = \frac{U \cdot A}{C_{min}}$.

How to Use This Calculator

Follow these simple guidelines to obtain precise performance metrics for your air heat exchanger design:

1. Select your preferred flow arrangement layout (Counter-Flow or Parallel-Flow).
2. Input the mass flow rates for both the hot and cold air streams in kilograms per second.
3. Enter the respective inlet and outlet temperatures alongside advanced options like fouling factors and velocities.
4. Click the Calculate Performance button to instantly view comprehensive outputs above the form.