Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Charts and
Equation | Engineers Edge
[Link]/thermodynamics/overall_heat_transfer-[Link]
The heat transfer coefficient is the proportionality coefficient between the heat flux and
the thermodynamic driving force for the flow of heat (i.e., the temperature difference,
ΔT):
q: amount of heat required (Heat Flux), W/m2 i.e., thermal power per unit area, q =
d\dot{Q}/dA
h: heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2 K)
Ts = Solid Surface temperature
K = Surrounding fluid area Temperature
It is used in calculating the heat transfer, typically by convection or phase transition
between a fluid and a solid. The heat transfer coefficient has SI units in watts per squared
meter kelvin: W/(m2K). Heat transfer coefficient is the inverse of thermal insulance. This
is used for building materials (R-value) and for clothing insulation.
Types Application Overall Heat
Transfer Coefficient -
U-
W/(m2 Btu/(ft2
oF h)
K)
Tubular, heating Gas at atmospheric pressure inside and 5 - 35 1-6
or cooling outside tubes
Gas at high pressure inside and outside 150 - 25 - 90
tubes 500
Liquid outside (inside) and gas at 15 - 70 3 - 15
atmospheric pressure inside (outside) tubes
Gas at high pressure inside and liquid 200 - 35 - 70
outside tubes 400
Liquids inside and outside tubes 150 - 25 - 200
1200
Steam outside and liquid inside tubes 300 - 50 - 200
1200
Tubular, Steam outside and cooling water inside 1500 - 250 - 700
condensation tubes 4000
Organic vapors or ammonia outside and 300 - 50 - 200
cooling water inside tubes 1200
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Tubular, steam outside and high-viscous liquid inside 300 - 50 - 150
evaporation tubes, natural circulation 900
steam outside and low-viscous liquid inside 600 - 100 - 300
tubes, natural circulation 1700
steam outside and liquid inside tubes, forced 900 - 150 - 500
circulation 3000
Air-cooled Cooling of water 600 - 100 - 130
heat 750
exchangers
Cooling of liquid light hydrocarbons 400 - 70 - 95
550
Cooling of tar 30 - 60 5 - 10
Cooling of air or flue gas 60 - 180 10 - 30
Cooling of hydrocarbon gas 200 - 35 - 80
450
Condensation of low pressure steam 700 - 125 - 150
850
Condensation of organic vapors 350 - 65 - 90
500
Plate heat liquid to liquid 1000 - 150 - 700
exchanger 4000
Spiral heat liquid to liquid 700 - 125 - 500
exchanger 2500
condensing vapor to liquid 900 - 150 - 700
3500
Heaters (no phase change)
Hot Fluid Cold Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Steam Air 10 – 20
Steam Water 250 – 750
Steam Methanol 200 – 700
Steam Ammonia 200 – 700
Steam Aqueous solutions 100 – 700
Steam Light hydrocarbons 100 – 200
(viscosity < 0.5 cP)
2/5
Steam Medium hydrocarbons 50 – 100
(0.5 cP < viscosity < 1 cP)
Steam Heavy hydrocarbons 6 – 60
(viscosity > 1)
Steam Gases 5 – 50
Dowtherm Gases 4 – 40
Dowtherm Heavy oils 8 – 60
Flue gas Aromatic hydrocarbon and steam 5 – 10
Evaporators
Hot Fluid Cold Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Steam Water 350 – 750
Steam Organic solvents 100 – 200
Steam Light oils 80 – 180
Steam Heavy oils (vacuum) 25 – 75
Water Refrigerant 75 – 150
Organic solvents Refrigerant 30 – 100
Coolers (no phase change)
Cold Fluid Hot Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Water Water 150 – 300
Water Organic solvent 50 – 150
Water Gases 3 – 50
Water Light oils 60 – 160
Water Heavy oils 10 – 50
Light oil Organic solvent 20 – 70
Brine Water 100 – 200
Brine Organic solvent 30 – 90
3/5
Brine Gases 3 – 50
Organic solvents Organic solvents 20 – 60
Heavy oils Heavy oils 8 – 50
Condensers
Cold Fluid Hot Fluid Overall U
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -
F)
Water Steam (pressure) 350 -750
Water Steam (vacuum) 300 – 600
Water or Organic solvent (saturated, atmospheric) 100 – 200
brine
Water or Organic solvent ( atmospheric, high non- 20 – 80
brine condensables)
Water or Organic solvent (saturated, vacuum) 50 – 120
brine
Water or Organic solvent (vacuum, high non-condensables) 10 – 50
brine
Water or Aromatic vapours (atmospheric with non- 5 – 30
brine condensables)
Water Low boiling hydrocarbon (atmospheric) 80 – 200
Water High boiling hydrocarbon (vacuum) 10 – 30
no phase change
Fluid Film Coefficient
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Water 300 – 2000
Gases 3 – 50
Organic Solvents 60 – 500
Oils 10 – 120
Condensing
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Fluid Film Coefficient
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Steam 1000 – 3000
Organic Solvents 150 – 500
Light Oils 200 – 400
Heavy Oils (vacuum) 20 – 50
Ammonia 500 – 1000
Evaporation
Fluid Film Coefficient
(BTU/hr-ft 2 -F)
Water 800 – 2000
Organic Solvents 100 – 300
Light Oils 150 – 300
Heavy Oils 10 – 50
Ammonia 200 – 400
Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient Table Chart Various Fluids (Liquids and
Gasses)
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TYPICAL OVERALL HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS
(U - VALUES)
[Link]/technology/thermal/[Link]
Shell and Tube Heat Hot Fluid Cold Fluid U
Exchangers [W/m2C]
Heat Exchangers Water Water 800 -
1500
Organic solvents Organic 100 -
Solvents 300
Light oils Light oils 100 -
400
Heavy oils Heavy oils 50 - 300
Reduced crude Flashed crude 35 - 150
Regenerated DEA Foul DEA 450 -
650
Gases (p = atm) Gases (p = atm) 5 - 35
Gases (p = 200 bar) Gases (p = 200 100 -
bar) 300
Coolers Organic solvents Water 250 -
750
Light oils Water 350 -
700
Heavy oils Water 60 - 300
Reduced crude Water 75 - 200
Gases (p = atm) Water 5 - 35
Gases (p = 200 bar) Water 150 -
400
Gases Water 20 - 300
1/4
Organic solvents Brine 150 -
500
Water Brine 600 -
1200
Gases Brine 15 - 250
Heaters Steam Water 1500 -
4000
Steam Organic solvents 500 -
1000
Steam Light oils 300 -
900
Steam Heavy oils 60 - 450
Steam Gases 30 - 300
Heat Transfer (hot) Oil Heavy oils 50 - 300
Heat Transfer (hot) Oil Gases 20 - 200
Flue gases Steam 30 - 100
Flue gases Hydrocarbon 30 -100
vapours
Condensers Aqueouos vapours Water 1000 -
1500
Organic vapours Water 700 -
1000
Refinery hydrocarbons Water 400 -
550
Vapours with some non Water 500 -
condensibles 700
Vacuum condensers Water 200 -
500
Vaporisers
Steam Aqueouos 1000 -
solutions 1500
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Steam Light organics 900 -
1200
Steam Heavy organics 600 -
900
Heat Transfer (hot) oil Refinery 250 -
hydrocarbons 550
Air Cooled Exchangers Process Fluid U
[W/m2C]
Water 300 -
450
Light organics 300 -
700
Heavy organics 50 - 150
Gases 50 - 300
Condensing hydrocarbons 300 -
600
Immersed coils Coil Pool U
[W/m2C]
Natural circulation Steam Dilute aqueouos 500 -
solutions 1000
Steam Light oils 200 -
300
Steam Heavy oils 70 - 150
3/4
Aqueouos solutions Water 200 -
500
Light oils Water 100 -
150
Agitated Steam Dilute aqueouos 800 -
solutions 1500
Steam Light oils 300 -
500
Steam Heavy oils 200 -
400
Aqueouos solutions Water 400 -
700
Light oils Water 200 -
300
Jacketed vessels Jacket Vessel U
[W/m2C]
Steam Dilute aqueouos 500 -
solutions 700
Steam Light organics 250 -
500
Water Dilute aqueouos 200 -
solutions 500
Water Light organics 200 -
300
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