An Introduction to Heat Exchanger
A heat exchanger is an equipment or device built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another, whether the media are separated by a solid wall so that they never mix, or the media are in direct contact. Heat exchanger are widely used in refrigeration, space heating, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, and natural gas processing. A common example of a heat exchanger is the radiator in a car, in which the heat source, being a hot engine-cooling fluid, water, transfers heat to air flowing through the radiator.
In industry, specifically process or manufacturing plants there are other types of heat exchanger such as plate heat exchangers, spiral heat exchangers and shell and tube heat exchangers. All of these heat exchangers are special and have their dedicated purpose or function when being employed. The price, size, specification, purpose and design varies within each other.
Heat exchanger must be properly maintained in order for it to be working efficiently and effectively. Energy is being transferred from one side to the other, thus it acts like an energy saver. When the heat exchanger is no longer efficiently transferring heat, it is time for cleaning. Hence, the heat exchanger will be stopped and cleaned from scale sticking on the surface of the wall. Failing to clean the heat exchanger will result to tremendous lost of energy.
