What is the formula to determine the effectiveness of a heat exchanger?

The formula to determine the effectiveness of a heat exchanger is defined as the ratio of the actual heat transfer to the maximum possible heat transfer. This concept is critical in evaluating the performance of a heat exchanger because it gives a clear indication of how effectively the heat exchanger is performing compared to its theoretical limit.

Effectiveness can be viewed as a measure of how much heat is being transferred relative to the best-case scenario where the heat exchanger would operate at maximum efficiency. This is particularly useful because it allows engineers and operators to assess the performance of the heat exchanger under actual operating conditions, facilitating better design and troubleshooting of HVAC systems.

Understanding this formula is important in practical HVAC applications, as it helps to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement in heat transfer processes. The other options provided do not accurately reflect the definition of heat exchanger effectiveness, making the original formula the correct and relevant one to use in determining heat exchanger performance.