All You Should Know About Heat Exchangers

Heat Exchangers Introduction:

A heat exchanger is a device whose prime function is to transfer the heat between one liquid to another. Heat exchanger manufacturers claim them to be the most versatile kind of thermal exchangers having a high-efficiency rate. These devices are having the wide range of application scope and their usage is not only limited to the heating applications like space heaters and others but are vastly employed in cooling applications as well such as refrigerator, air conditioners, industrial chillers and etc.

Heat Exchangers Working Principle:

Heat exchanger manufacturers explain their working principle as the device enables the heat from one liquid or gas to transfer to the other liquid or glass without two fluids getting mixed into each other. In easier words, heat exchangers transfer heat without transferring the liquid or gas that was initially carrying heat.

It is also important to understand that not all heat exchangers are working on the principle of heat transfer from one liquid to another, but sometimes also use other mediums to do so.

Different Kinds of Heat Exchanger:

Heat exchangers are commonly distinguished with the help of the direction of the liquid that is flowing through, making a heat exchanger either cross flow, parallel flow, and counter current. In parallel flow both the liquids flow in the same direction entering and exiting from the same sides. In the cross flow, as the name suggests, the liquid flows in the perpendicular direction to each other. Whereas in the countercurrent variation, the liquid flows in opposite directions, meaning one liquid exiting from where the other liquid will be entering.

Heat exchangers are also classified based on other factors rather than the direction of fluid as well. Below are some of the most popular types of heat exchangers.

• Plate Heat Exchanger

• Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

• Adiabatic Wheel Heat Exchanger

• Regenerative Heat Exchanger

Plate Heat Exchanger:

Plate heat exchanger incorporates thin metal plates, usually plates made out of stainless steel. Using a small rubber structure, these plates are held together with a little space between them. Each plate is designed with openings that allow the liquid flow between them and extract the heat from plates as it flows by.

Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger:

Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger contains various multiple tubes through which the liquid is allowed to flow. These tubes are divided to perform two different functions. The first set is comprised of the liquid to be heated or cooled. And the second set of tubes are designated to trigger heat exchange by either removing the heat from the first set or transferring its own heat away in order to cool down its temperature.

Adiabatic Wheel Heat Exchanger:

The adiabatic wheel heat exchanger uses an intermediate fluid that works as a medium to carry heat. This heat is then transferred to the heat exchanger unit. This kind is made up of a large wheel that performs rotation through the liquid for heat transfer.

Regenerative Heat Exchanger:

In a regenerative heat exchanger, the same liquid is made to pass through both sides of exchangers, which can be a plate, tube or shell heat exchanger. Since the liquid gets really hot, the exiting liquid transfers the heat to the incoming liquid and main a constant temperature. This is the best type of heat exchanger when it comes to energy saving as it works on the regenerative principles.

Heat Exchanger Applications:

Heat exchangers are very popular in electrical, mechanical and chemical systems. Their most common uses are found in ventilation systems, air conditioners, combustion engines, radiators, refrigerators and so on.