What calculates the mean difference between the temperature of a fluid receiving heat and a fluid yielding heat?

The mean temperature difference is a critical concept in heat exchange processes, as it quantifies the average temperature difference between two fluids that are exchanging heat. In a heating or cooling system, one fluid absorbs heat while another fluid dissipates it. By calculating the mean temperature difference, engineers can determine the effectiveness of the heat exchange process, enabling them to design and optimize systems for better efficiency and performance.

This calculation is essential in ensuring that the heat transfer is efficient, allowing for the design of properly sized heat exchangers, chillers, or air conditioning units. With an accurate mean temperature difference, the system’s capacity can be effectively analyzed and adjusted, which in turn improves performance and saves energy.

Enthalpy, while important in thermodynamic calculations, relates to the heat content of a system and doesn't directly calculate the mean temperature differences. Similarly, terms like heat of compression and evaporator superheat have specific roles in the refrigeration cycle but do not address the average temperature differences between heating and cooling fluids. Therefore, the method that focuses directly on calculating the mean temperature differences is the correct choice.