This set of Heat Transfer Operations Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers – Concurrent and Countercurrent Operation”.
1. In a shell and tube heat exchanger, the flow pattern is usually ________
a) Concurrent
b) Counter current
c) Concurrent at a part and Counter current at the other
d) Mixed flow
View Answer
Explanation: In a shell and tube HE when the fluids are flowing in their respective paths, there are regions where both Concurrent and Counter current flow is observed.
2. In a 2-4 Shell and Tube heat exchanger, how many concurrent and counter current flow regimes are observed?
a) 2 concurrent and 2 counter current
b) 1 concurrent and 1 counter current
c) 4 concurrent and 0 counter current
d) 0 concurrent and 4 counter current
View Answer
Explanation: In a 2-4 Shell and Tube heat exchanger, we observe alternate concurrent and counter current flow regimes, as there are total 4 interaction areas, we get alternating 2 concurrent and 2 counter current flow patterns.
3. In the following Figure determine the number of Concurrent flow and Counter-current flow regime.
a) 2 concurrent and 2 counter current
b) 1 concurrent and 1 counter current
c) 2 concurrent and 0 counter current
d) 0 concurrent and 2 counter current
View Answer
Explanation: In the temperature pattern shown above, we observe alternate concurrent and counter current flow regimes, as there are total 2 interaction areas, we get alternating 1 concurrent(Tc2-TH) and 1 counter current(Tc1-TH) flow patterns.
4. In a 1-2 Shell and Tube heat exchanger, how many concurrent and counter current flow regimes are observed?
a) 2 concurrent and 2 counter current
b) 1 concurrent and 1 counter current
c) 4 concurrent and 0 counter current
d) 0 concurrent and 4 counter current
View Answer
Explanation: In a 1-2 Shell and Tube heat exchanger, we observe alternate concurrent and counter current flow regimes, as there are total 2 interaction areas, we get alternating 1 concurrent and 1 counter current flow patterns.
5. In the following Figure determine the number of Concurrent flow and Counter-current flow regime.
a) 2 concurrent and 2 counter current
b) 1 concurrent and 1 counter current
c) 2 concurrent and 0 counter current
d) 0 concurrent and 2 counter current
View Answer
Explanation: In the temperature pattern shown above, we observe alternate concurrent and counter current flow regimes. Looking at the region THA to Ti, there is a single Concurrent and Counter-current interaction, as there are total 2 interaction areas, we get alternating 2 concurrent and 2 counter current flow patterns.
6. In a shell and tube Heat exchanger, sometimes flow regimes cannot be expressed as concurrent or counter-current.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: Flow regimes can always be represented by counter-current and concurrent by any point of consideration in the setup as possible. This is because the fluid in contact with the tube always has a direction of flow.
7. In the following shell and tube setup as shown, recognise the number of Concurrent and Counter-current interactions.
a) 2 concurrent and 4 counter current
b) 3 concurrent and 3 counter current
c) 6 concurrent and 0 counter current
d) 0 concurrent and 6 counter current
View Answer
Explanation: In the setup shown above, we observe alternate concurrent and counter current flow regimes. Looking at the region THA to Ti, there is a single Concurrent and Counter-current interaction, as there are total 3 interaction areas, we get alternating 3 concurrent and 3 counter current flow patterns.

AB – Counter-current
BC – Con-current
CD – Counter-current
DE – Con-current
EF – Counter-current
FG – Con-current.
8. What is the total number of counter-current flow regime in the given setup of split flow?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer
Explanation: We can observe by the below diagram that the number of counter flow regime is 2.

9. What is the total number of counter-current flow regime in the given setup of double split flow?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer
Explanation: We can observe by the below diagram of double split flow, that the number of counter flow regime is 4.

10. What is the total number of concurrent flow regime in the given setup of Shell and Tube HE?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 0
View Answer
Explanation: We can observe by the given flow, that the number of concurrent regime is 0 and is totally counter current as is visible from the fact that the flow at every point is opposite to that in tube.
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