Batch Processes:  Some of the industrial applications include (1) cooling/heating of the tank contents by an isothermal medium, (2) heating of the tank contents by a non-isothermal medium (coil-in-tank, jacketed vessel), and (3) cooling of the tank contents by a non-isothermal medium.  These relations are provided in Table 5.10.  In these equations M is the size of the batch, and U is the heat transfer coefficient.

 

Isothermal heating of batch contents by internal coil: 

 

Example 5.14: Calculate the time required to heat the 40000 lb tank contents from 68 °F to 260 °F with saturated steam condensing at 320 °F flowing in a 80 ft2 coil having an overall heat transfer coefficient of 150 Btu/(h·ft2°F).  Specific heat of the fluid is 0.55 Btu/(lb·°F)

 

Solution:   This is a situation where tank contents are heated by an internal coil, which receives heating medium at isothermal conditions.

 

Heat transfer coefficient of internal coil, U = 150 Btu/(h·ft2·°F)

Mass of the tank contents, M = 40000 lb

Initial temperature of tank fluid, t1 = 68 °F

Final temperature of tank fluid, t2 = 240 °F

Temperature of isothermal heating medium, T1 = 320 °F

Heat transfer area, A = 80 ft2

Specific heat of the tank fluid, c = 0.55 Btu/(lb·°F)

 

Time required to achieve this heating can be found as