As the name implies, heat exchanger is a device that is used to transfer heat from one medium to another. It is called in different names and comes in various types as well. But in general, they work pretty much the same following the process of transferring heat by conduction through the material that separates the mediums being processed.
When it comes to designing this device, there are many factors to consider. These include temperature, flow rate, and fluid type. Moreover, you also need to decide what you require, either heat dissipation or target outlet temperature. The same factors have to be considered when deciding on secondary circuit fluid type. You also have to take into account any pressure loss limitations and any other requirements needed by your application.
In addition, since the heat exchanger comes in different types, we are going to explain the top three options that you can consider and pick the right one for you.
Shell and tube exchanger: this type is composed of a huge number of small tubes that are placed inside a cylindrical shell. They are arranged inside the cylinder in a tube stack manner that enables the tube to either contract and expand with various heat conditions.
Plate heat exchanger: this second option works quite the same as the one above but it uses a series of stacked plates instead of tubes. It is perfect to be applied in the food and beverage processing industry.
Air cooled exchanger: this last type of heat exchanger is commonly used in automobile applications in which there is no permanent source for cool water. It works using cooling packs that produce cool air either through the airflow generated by car movement or a fan.
So far, we have discussed how heat exchangers work, what is needed to design them, and what types are available to choose from.
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