Type of heat exchangers and their selection criteria

Question

Accepted Answer

Heat exchangers are devices used to transfer heat between two or more fluids.

Types of heat exchangers include shell and tube, plate, and finned tube heat exchangers.
Selection criteria for heat exchangers include heat transfer efficiency, pressure drop, material compatibility, and cost.
Shell and tube heat exchangers are commonly used in industries such as oil and gas, chemical, and power generation.
Plate heat exchangers are compact and efficient, suitable for applications with low flow rates and high temperature differences.
Finned tube heat exchangers are used when there is a need for increased heat transfer surface area, such as in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Accepted Answer

There are 2 broad classes of HX:

recuperative HX (shell and tube, double pipe, plate HX)
regenerative

Recuperative types are most commonly used.

Criteria of selection:

Double Pipe HX - Heat transfer area required < 15 m2
Shell and tube HX - Heat transfer area required > 15 m2 and high T and P operations
Plate and frame HX - low to moderate T and P and very high heat transfer area required per volume

Shell and tube most commonly used in chemical industries due to their flexibility in operating T and P, ability to handle corrosive fluids (Plate HX cannot) and ease of maintenance. Plate and frame HX used in less rigorous applications like building HVAC system, pharma and food industries

Type of heat exchangers and their selection criteria

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