A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer heat between two liquids or more without direct contact between them. A heat exchanger can be classified based on its construction features and fluid flow arrangement. This results to various types such as:
Counter-flow and parallel-flow heat exchanger
It is made up of two fluids of varied temperatures moving in different of the same direction.
Shell-and-tube exchanger
Comprises of a shell enclosing tubes. The tubes can either be a two pass, single pass or U shaped.
The Cross-flow heat exchanger
Consists of a fluid flowing perpendicularly through finned or unfinned tubules.
Compact exchanger
This device is equipped with a high heat transfer area per unit volume capability. Based on the construction features, the exchanger can be a plate-and-fin, plate-and-frame or a micro exchanger by design.
Heat Exchangers are usually used for both cooling and heating processes.
