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Heat Exchangers Overview

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Heat exchangers are devices that transfer energy from one fluid to another fluid, with a solid surface in between the two fluids. The greater the amount of solid surface between the two liquids, the more efficient the heat exchanger will be. Also, the rate and direction of the liquid’s flow affects the efficiency. Two main types of heat exchangers are called “shell and tube” and “flat plate”, though other types exist as well. Flat plate exchangers have the advantage of smaller size and are less costly to install. The shell and tube designs might be more cost effective in the long run in certain applications. Heat exchangers are used in countless ways. For cooling purposes, they are used to chill water in such things as air conditioning units, medical equipment (x-rays, lasers), food processing, semi-conductors, beverage refrigeration, compressed air dryers, ice makers and skating rinks, just to name a few. Radiators in cars are a type of heat exchanger. Heat exchangers may also be used in heating applications, like boilers, hot water heaters and radiant flooring inside housing and also outside to melt away snow. Because of their widespread use, many industries, such as aerospace, military, telecommunications, machine tools and diagnostic imaging rely on heat exchangers.

Materials found in the heat exchangers are designed for specific uses: Copper heat exchangers work well with water and most other coolants; stainless steel exchangers are used with deionized water; ones constructed out of aluminum are most effective for oil-based coolants; nickel-brazed heat exchangers are necessary for high purity or corrosive coolants.

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