Applied Chemical Engineering

CyclePad-based modeling of simple heat exchangers: Educational case study in parallel and counterflow configurations

Choon Kit Chan

Faculty of Engineering and Quantity Surveying, INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan 71800, Malaysia

Pankaj Dumka

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A.B. Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, 473226, India

Mohini P Sardey

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, AISSMS, Institute of Information Technology ,Pune, 411001, India

Veeresh G. Balikai

Associate Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, KLE Technological University, Hubli, Karnataka, 580031, India

Milind P Gajare

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, AISSMS, Institute of Information Technology ,Pune, 411001, India

Rishika Chauhan

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A.B. Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, 473226, India

Partha Sarathy Banerjee

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A.B. Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, 473226, India

Dhananjay R. Mishra

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology, A.B. Road, Raghogarh, Guna, Madhya Pradesh, 473226, India

Feroz shaik

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia

Jeyagopi Raman

Faculty of Engineering and Quantity Surveying, INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan 71800, Malaysia

Subhav singh

Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh,174103, India；Division of research and development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.

Deekshant varshney

Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura Punjab, 140417, India；Centre for Promotion of Research, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Uttarakhand, Dehradun, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v8i4.5669

Keywords: Heat exchanger; heat exchanger simulation; CyclePad; LMTD, process innovation

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Abstract

This article explores the use of CyclePad software for modelling and analysing simple heat exchangers by focusing on its application in educational and preliminary design contexts. Heat exchangers are the essential devices for thermal energy transfer. Modelling heat exchanger quickly by using hand calculation is time consuming and sometimes also leads to errors. Therefore, CyclePad has been used to model heat exchanger which is having an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that can makes the configuration of parallel and counterflow arrangements quickly. The study involves two case studies: in one ait to air exchange takes place whereas in the second air to water (involving phase change) happens in both parallel as well as counter flow arrangements. Key performance metrics considered in the study are Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD), heat transfer rates, and mass flow rates, which are calculated and compared for different flow configurations. Results demonstrate that CyclePad provides accurate and reliable solutions which are supported well with theoretical methods, while offering a user-friendly platform for visualizing the thermodynamic processes. The findings highlight the value of CyclePad in engineering education by bridging the gap between theory and practical implementation.

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