A heat exchanger is a device designed to efficiently transfer or “exchange” heat from one matter to another (between a solid object and a fluid, or between two or more fluids). When a fluid is used to transfer heat, the fluid could be a liquid, such as water or oil, or could be moving air. The fluids may be separated by a solid wall to prevent mixing or they may be in direct contact.
Also Read: How to build an induction heater
Their applications includes:
- Space heating
- Refrigeration
- Air conditioning
- Power stations
- Chemical plants
- Petroleum refineries
- Natural-gas processing
- Sewage treatment
Also Read: How to build an induction heater
The classic example of a heat exchanger is found in an IC (Internal Combustion) Engine in which a circulating fluid known as engine coolant flows through radiator coils and air flows past the coils, which cools the coolant and heats the incoming air. Another example is the heat sink , which is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant.
