What Are the Applications of Heat Exchangers?
Heat exchangers are devices that are designed in such a manner that the heat which is transferred from one fluid to another through a solid surface is done efficiently. The heat transfers take one or two forms namely absorption or dissipation of heat. The two fluids should not come into contact with each other. They are found in everyday appliances that include air conditioning systems, furnaces, pool heaters, and domestic hot water systems, round water systems, radiant floor heating and boilers.
Heat exchangers Australia and other parts are used in wide range of industrial applications such as:
- The oil and gas industry: Heat exchangers are used in wide range of light and gas hydrocarbon liquids processing. These can vary in size greatly. Typical applications for offshore, onshore and floating duties include:
Gas Dew point Control
NGL Recovery
Floating LNG Regasification
Floating liquid natural gas (LNG) Liquefaction
Sour gas compression cooling
High temperature recuperations
- Power generation: In the thermally driven power market, maximizing energy recovery is a key driver. The ability of heat exchangers to achieve very close temperature approaches combined with compact size, extreme operating capabilities and low weight makes heat exchangers the ideal heat transfer technology in power generation applications. Heat exchangers are generally used in the following power generation applications such as:
IGT
Brayton gas cycle
Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC)
Energy storage
- Chemical processing industry: The other parts are also used in a chemical processing industry. There are many manufacturers who tailor the reactor design to the needs of the process involved. The process-specific designs allow for maximum process optimization in a small footprint. Heat exchangers are mostly used in the chemical processing industry for the development of multiple adiabatic bed reactors, compact steam reformation and so on.4. Industrial gas processing: The arrival of novel plant and various other air processing technology involving heat exchangers can lead to significant enhancement of performance while reducing the overall footprint of the equipment.
Other applications of it include sewage treatment, power plants, and space heating, petrochemical plants and so on. They are also energy savers as they can recover wasted heat and make it useful all over again.
Heat exchangers are of different types and these are distinguished based on the direction that the liquid will flow. This will include parallel flow, cross flow and counter-current heat exchangers. In the case of parallel flow heat exchangers, the fluids will flow in the same direction and enter as well as exit the exchanger side by side. Whereas in the case of cross flow models the fluid path run perpendicular to each other. In the case of the counter-current models, the fluid paths are flowing in opposite direction. These are more effective than the others. Apart from classification based on their fluid direction, heat exchangers can also be classified according to their composition also.
Some of the benefits because of which heat exchangers are becoming popular are:
Modern heat exchangers are quite adaptable and versatile. Because of these, they can be used to perform a wide variety of tasks. Moreover, the compact size allows them to be carried anywhere.
Because of true counter flow and high-temperature transfer efficiency, these devices can be used to manage close approach temperatures. The heat exchangers are also capable of withstanding pressure ratings and high temperature.
The heat exchangers are safe to use and easy to maintain. They do not corrode easily and replacing any non-functional part is very easy and can be done at home itself.
The heat exchangers are available in various designs and different materials such as stainless steel, nickel, titanium and so on.
Stalwart International – One of the best Heat exchanger manufacturers in India.
