While it mentions computational methods, it is primarily a manual calculation manual. In a world where most engineers use HTRI or Aspen Exchanger Design & Rating, some might find the manual iterations tedious.
The book follows a very logical "rating" and "design" procedure. It teaches you how to calculate the heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and fouling factors in a way that aligns with TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association) standards.
This is arguably the most valuable part of the book. It provides "back-of-the-envelope" calculations and industry standards that allow an engineer to quickly sense-check a design before running expensive software simulations.
— Essential for practitioners, though perhaps a bit intimidating for undergraduates.
If you are a chemical or mechanical engineer working in the power, petroleum, or manufacturing industries, this is a "must-have" desk reference. It’s less of a textbook to read cover-to-cover and more of a manual to keep within arm’s reach when you need to verify if a heat exchanger is performing as it should.