Importance of Heat Exchangers
- A heat exchanger is a device that facilitates the process of heat exchange between two fluids that are at different temperatures.
- It is a system used to transfer heat between a source and a working fluid.
- Heat exchangers are used in both cooling and heating processes.
- Boilers, condensers, and evaporators are heat exchangers which employ a two-phase heat transfer mechanism.
- As mentioned previously, in two-phase heat exchangers one or more fluids undergo a phase change during the heat transfer process, either changing from a liquid to a gas or a gas to a liquid.
HOW DOES WORK?
- Heat exchanger functions by transferring heat from higher to lower temperatures.
- Heat can thus be transferred from the hot fluid to the cold fluid if a hot fluid and a cold fluid are separated by a heat-conducting surface.
- The operation of a heat exchanger is governed by thermodynamics.
Heat can be transferred with the help of
>> Conduction
>> Convection
>> Radiation
CLASSIFICATION OF HEAT EXCHANGER
Heat exchangers are classified based on two different categories.
- Based on the Flow configuration
- Counter-flow heat exchange
- Parallel flow heat exchanger
- Cross-flow heat exchanger
- Based on the construction design
- Regenerative heat exchanger
- Recuperative heat exchangers
TYPES OF HEAT EXCHANGERS
>> Indirect Contact Heat Exchangers
>> Direct Heat Exchangers
1: COUNTER FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
- Counterflow heat exchangers route the exhaust and fresh air past each other in separate channels, creating air flows in opposite directions. The temperatures of the air flows are thereby interchanged.
- Counter flow heat exchangers are inherently more efficient than parallel-flow heat exchangers because they create a more uniform temperature difference between the fluids, over the entire length of the fluid path.
- This distributes the heat more evenly across the heat exchanger and allows for maximum efficiency
2: PARALLEL FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
- Heat is transferred from the warm fluid through the wall of the inner tube (the so-called heating surface) to the cold fluid. A heat exchanger can also be operated in counterflow, in which the two fluids flow in parallel but opposite directions.
- Parallel flow heat exchangers are also good if you want to keep the maximum temperature of the colder fluid below a certain threshold. While less efficient, sometimes its important not to transfer too much heat, which is where a parallel exchanger would be handy.
- The parallel flow heat exchanger is mainly used where limited transfer of heat is recommended. The limit of the exit temperature of cold fluid is exit temperature of hot fluid in case of parallel flow heat exchanger.
3: CROSS FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
- A cross-flow heat exchanger is used in a cooling and ventilation system that requires heat to be transferred from one airstream to another. A cross-flow heat exchanger is made of thin metal panels, normally aluminum. The thermal energy is exchanged via the panels.
- Crossflow heat exchangers achieve high efficiencies, with heat transfer depending on the surface area covered by the flow channels. This means The larger the heat exchanger, the greater the heat recovery.
- Cross-flow filtration is when the flow is applied tangentially across the membrane surface. As the feed flows across the membrane surface, filtrate passes through while concentrate accumulates at the opposite end of the membrane.
APPLICATIONS OF HEAT EXCHANGER
Heat exchangers are used in many engineering applications, such as
- Refrigeration
- Heating and air conditioning systems
- Power plants
- Chemical processing systems
- Food processing systems
- Automobile radiators
- Waste heat recovery unit
If you’re considering the installation of a heat exchanger system for your business in New Jersey and require professional assistance, look no further than Brunswick Engineering. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing top-notch heat exchange solutions tailored to your specific requirements. Whether you need to optimize energy usage, enhance system efficiency, or ensure a comfortable environment within your commercial space, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for expert guidance and a reliable heat exchanger installation that meets your needs.