Types Heat exchanger are a staple in today’s devices. They are not only present in the simplest of devices. Exchangers have also found their use in big industries and machineries in the world today. They are basically devices found in some machines that enable it to transfer heat from one medium to another. They facilitate the efficient transfer of heat from one object to another.
Use of Heat Exchangers:
One example of this is the radiators found in cars or air conditioners. What usually happens is that a heat source transfers water that will cool the engine through the exchanger. The exchanger will transfer heat from the water to air leaving the engine cooler. Types of Heat Exchanger are widely used for the purposes of space heating air conditioning and even refrigeration. Heavy industries that also use this technology include power plants, chemical and petrochemical plants. Others are oil and petroleum refineries, natural gas processors and sewage treatment facilities.
Types of Heat Exchange Flow:
Heat exchangers can be classified into two types, mainly according to their flow arrangements. These are the parallel-flow and the counter-flow exchangers. The parallel-flow exchange involves the two mediums going in the exchanger through the same side of the device. For example, two fluids will enter exchanger at the same side and travel parallel each other for the whole process.
The counter-flow exchange, on the other hand, is the opposite of the first process. Here, fluids will enter the device from different ends and meet each other for the process of heat exchange. Many exchangers use this flow since it has been prove to the more effective of the two processes. It can transfer more heat from the heating medium to the other. In this set-up, the mediums travel to one another and are then process by the exchanger.
Traditionally, exchangers are design in a way that the surface area between the two exchanging fluids. It maximized whilst minimizing the resistance to the exchange flow at the same time. Additional fins installed in either direction where the fluids enter can also enhance exchangers. These fins can add to the surface area of exchangers whilst also helping control flow of fluids during exchange process.
Temperature during the Heat Exchange Process
Depending on the size of the exchanger, temperature will vary during the exchange process. The temperature will also vary according to the position of the device. But many industries that use exchangers almost always have their own defined mean temperature.
Economical: These exchangers are relatively simple and cheaper to produce than other types. Because of their size, they require less material to fabricate. They also give the highest thermal capacity for relatively low-cost. This makes them the most economic choice for heat transfer tasks.
Flexibility: They are very flexible in that they can be used in most applications with only minimal modifications. If modifications are to applied, they can implemented with relative ease, negating need to buy new heat exchanger. They also work on a wide range of fluids and thus, make them compatible with a wide range of industrial applications.