In distillation, one needs to condense the vapor being produced; therefore a condenser is used. Cold water is passed through the condenser. There two ways to allow the water the flow, concurrent and countercurrent. What is the difference between concurrent exchange and countercurrent exchange? Which method is more efficient? Explain.
2007-08-21 09:58:40 · 2 answers · asked by bucsfan5520 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Whatever concurrent or countercurrent means, you have to feed the cooling water into the bottom of the condenser. This is because hot vapor enters at the top, and heats the jacket water as it goes down. So by pumping water in from the bottom, you consistently push heated water out the top.
2007-08-21 10:19:01 · answer #1 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
concurrent means that the drection of flow of water is same from that item which has to be condensed and countercurrent means that the direction is opposite
the second method is more efficient bcoz less water is needed (thats what i think) i am sure that countercurrent is more efficient but i dont know the exact reason perhaps that in lungs the flow of blood is countercurrent to the flow of air in alveoli thats bcoz they can exchange more oxygen so this means in condenser whe water flows countercurrent that heat exchange will be more efficient
2007-08-21 17:34:11 · answer #2 · answered by feeju 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋