Heat Transfer Coefficients in Heat Exchangers

Overall heat transfer coefficients in some common heat exchanger constructions - tubular, plate and spiral

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The table below can be used as an indication of overall heat transfer coefficients in some common heat exchanger constructions and applications:

Type	Application	Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient - U -
Type	Application	W/(m².K)	Btu/(ft².F.h)
Tubular, heating or cooling	Gases at atmospheric pressure inside and outside tubes	5 - 35	1 - 6
	Gases at high pressure inside and outside tubes	150 - 500	25 - 90
	Liquid outside (inside) and gas at atmospheric pressure inside (outside) tubes	15 - 70	3 - 15
	Gas at high pressure inside and liquid outside tubes	200 - 400	35 - 70
	Liquids inside and outside tubes	150 - 1200	25 - 200
	Steam outside and liquid inside tubes	300 - 1200	50 - 200
Tubular, condensation	Steam outside and cooling water inside tubes	1500 - 4000	250 - 700
Tubular, condensation	Organic vapors or ammonia outside and cooling water inside tubes	300 - 1200	50 - 200
Tubular, evaporation	steam outside and high-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation	300 - 900	50 - 150
	steam outside and low-viscous liquid inside tubes, natural circulation	600 - 1700	100 - 300
	steam outside and liquid inside tubes, forced circulation	900 - 3000	150 - 500
Air-cooled heat exchangers	Cooling of water	600 - 750	100 - 130
	Cooling of liquid light hydrocarbons	400 - 550	70 - 95
	Cooling of tar	30 - 60	5 - 10
	Cooling of air or flue gas	60 - 180	10 - 30
	Cooling of hydrocarbon gas	200 - 450	35 - 80
	Condensation of low pressure steam	700 - 850	125 - 150
	Condensation of organic vapors	350 - 500	65 - 90
Plate heat exchanger	liquid to liquid	1000 - 4000	150 - 700
Spiral heat exchanger	liquid to liquid	700 - 2500	125 - 500
Spiral heat exchanger	condensing vapor to liquid	900 - 3500	150 - 700

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