If your process is taking longer than expected, heat transfer efficiency may be the issue.         

At the core of efficient heating is the overall heat transfer coefficient, or U-value—a measure of how easily heat flows through the resistant mediums in the system. The U-value reflects the combined effect of film coefficients on both sides of the heat transfer surface, the thermal resistance of the wall material, and any additional resistance caused by fouling or scale.         

When resistance increases, heat transfer slows—and so does your process.         

Several measures can help improve the overall U-value and boost heat efficiency: using a heat source with a higher convective heat transfer coefficient, choosing wall materials with better thermal conductivity, reducing wall thickness where appropriate, and eliminating additional resistance caused by fouling or scale.         

Learn how to calculate the overall U-value for your heat exchanger, and how strategic changes can lead to faster, more efficient heating in your process.