engineering

Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator

Calculate NTU, capacity ratio, and effectiveness for parallel flow, counter flow, and shell-and-tube heat exchangers

Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator

Calculate NTU, capacity ratio, and effectiveness for various heat exchanger configurations.

Formulas

NTU = UA / C_min   C_r = C_min / C_max
ε = (1−e^(−NTU(1−Cr))) / (1−Cr·e^(−NTU(1−Cr)))
Q = ε · C_min · (T_h,in − T_c,in)

Results

NTU

0.5000

Capacity Ratio C_r

0.6667

Effectiveness ε

35.24%

Q_max (C_min × ΔT_max)

260000.0 W

Actual Heat Transfer Q

91615.1 W

= 91.615 kW

Hot Outlet T_h,out

104.19 °C

Cold Outlet T_c,out

50.54 °C

Calculation Summary

C_min = min(2000, 3000) = 2000 W/K
C_max = 3000 W/K → C_r = 0.6667
NTU = (500 × 2.00) / 2000 = 0.5000

How to Use This Calculator

1

Enter your input values

Fill in all required input fields for the Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator. Most fields include unit selectors so you can work in your preferred unit system.

2

Review your inputs

Double-check that all values are correct and that you have selected the right units for each field. Incorrect units are the most common source of calculation errors.

3

Read the results

The Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator instantly computes the output and displays results with units. All calculations happen in your browser — no loading time and no data sent to a server.

Formula Reference

Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator Formula

See calculator inputs for the governing equation

Variables: All variables and their units are labeled in the calculator interface above.

When to Use This Calculator

  • •Use the Heat Exchanger NTU Calculator when solving homework or exam problems that require quick numerical verification of your hand calculations.
  • •Use it during the design phase to rapidly iterate on parameters before running detailed finite element simulations.
  • •Use it when reviewing a colleague's calculation or checking a vendor's data sheet for plausibility.
  • •Use it to generate reference data for a technical report or presentation without manual computation.

Related Calculators

Conduction Calculator

Calculate heat conduction through flat walls, cylinders, and spheres with multi-layer flat wall support

Convection Calculator

Calculate convective heat transfer Q = hA(T_surface - T_fluid) and solve for any unknown

Radiation Heat Transfer Calculator

Calculate radiative heat transfer Q = εσA(T₁⁴ - T₂⁴) with common emissivity reference values

Thermal Resistance Calculator

Build series/parallel thermal resistance networks for conduction, convection, and radiation elements

Fin Efficiency Calculator

Calculate fin efficiency and effectiveness for rectangular and annular fins using fin parameter m

Heat Exchanger LMTD Calculator

Calculate log-mean temperature difference and heat transfer rate for parallel and counter-flow heat exchangers