Question

What would be the best way to model the temperature over time of a fluid being heated in a spherical copper tank by steam flowing through internal coils? The fluid being heated can be approximated as water. I'm familiar with basic chemical engineering heat transfer equations.

Answer 1

The best way to model the temperature over time of a fluid being heated in a spherical copper tank by steam flowing through internal coils can be achieved through use of Jacketed pans in which the liquid which is water in our case is present in a vessel and moved across the surface in which heat transfer will take place where Steam will be source of heat.

Using equation

q = U * A * dT

where U = heat transfer coefficient , A = area of heating surface and dT = temperature difference

q i.e heat across heat transfer surface

Amount of steam required = q * latent heat

So we would be able to relate dT with time as the temperature rises less steam will be used so dT will decrease.So by calculating amount of steam required we can then relate it with dT and thus dT can be related with time.