A propene vapour stream at 12.5 bar(a) and flow rate of 17.4 kg s1 enters a total condenser, where it condenses in the shell side at a temperature of 295 K. The cooling fluid in the tubes is propane refrigerant at 5.5 bar(a), boiling at 283 K with a film boiling coefficient of 3000 W m2 K1.

The condenser has horizontal tubes 5 m long, 0.023 m internal diameter and 0.025 m outside diameter.

a) Assuming an overall coefficient of 1500 W m2 K1, find the required heat transfer area.

b) Hence find the number of tubes and the wetted perimeter.

c) Calculate the condensate loading, , and the film Reynolds number.

Liquid Propene property

Density 480 kg m3

Viscosity 0.0002 kg m1s 1

Thermal conductivity k 0.395 W m1K1

Latent heat 447 kJ kg1