Summary of lmtd and e ntu. The Log Mean Temperature Difference Method (LMTD) The Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference(LMTD) is valid only for heat exchanger with one shell pass and one tube pass. For multiple number of shell and tube passes the flow pattern in a heat exchanger is neither purely co-current nor purely counter-current. The temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids varies along the heat exchanger. It is convenient to have a mean temperature difference Tm for use in the relation. s mQ UA T 3. The mean temperature difference in a heat transfer process depends on the direction of fluid flows involved in the process. The primary and secondary fluid in an heat exchanger process may flow in the same direction - parallel flow or cocurrent flow in the opposite direction - countercurrent flow or perpendicular to each other - cross flow