Note
Key points about heat exchangers include:
KEY POINTS
⸺ Function
Heat exchangers transfer thermal energy from a hot fluid to a cold fluid while keeping them physically separated, serving purposes like heating, cooling, condensing, or evaporating.
⸺ Design
Compact units with metal plates, tubes, or fins provide a large surface area for efficient heat transfer. Material choice considers factors such as temperature, pressure, corrosion resistance, and thermal conductivity.
⸺ Types
Common types include shell and tube, plate, finned tube, and air cooled heat exchangers, each suited for specific applications.
⸺ Heat Transfer Mechanisms
Heat transfer occurs through conduction, convection, and radiation.
⸺ Performance and Efficiency
Factors like surface area, temperature difference, flow rates, and overall design impact heat exchanger efficiency.
⸺ Applications
Heat exchangers find use in industrial processes, power generation, HVAC systems, refrigeration, waste heat recovery, oil and gas processing, and more.