Abstract
Most processing is thermal. Reaction systems and separation systems are typically dominated by their associated heat exchange. Optimization of this heat exchange has a tremendous leverage on the ultimate process efficiency. Heat exchangers use energy two ways: as frictional drop and as the loss in ability to do work when heat is degraded. The selection of design numbers for ∆P and ∆T is frequently the most important decision the process makes, but often this goes unrecognized.
Steinmeyer, D. (1991). Optimum Temperature Difference and Pressure Drop in Heat Exchangers. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.eslwin.tamu.edu). Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /92219.