Heat exchangers are widely used for industrial as well as domestic applications. They are present in a majority of equipments that we use daily- cars, Air conditioners, refrigerators, heating systems, etc. As far as industrial uses of heat is concerned, all installations that use engine, heating mechanism of some kind, heavy machinery etc need heat exchangers. Heat exchangers not only protect the main equipment, but also make it efficient in usage. This leads to cost savings in short as well as long term. Let us look at various uses of heat exchangers.
Uses of Heat Exchangers
For the ease of understanding, let us first categorize the heat exchangers into two applications- domestic and industrial. We at AIC Heat Exchanger cater to both of these categories. Some of the common uses of heat exchangers are enumerated as follows:-
Heat Exchanger for Domestic Use
Air conditioners use two heat exchangers. One sucks the ambient air from the room and passes it through Freon which is the refrigerant used in Air conditioners. This cool air is again sent back to the room where it cools the confined space. The second heat exchanger is meant for Freon itself which tends to heat up in the process of chilling the air.
The refrigerator uses a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from inside the refrigerator to the outside. It accomplishes this with the help of a coolant which runs through pipes in the fridge and absorbs heat and ejects it outside.
A heating system that protects you from harsh temperatures of the winter season is a big heat exchanger. Your heating system works either by heating water or oil, which is then circulated across the house through pipes. In some cases the heat exchanger’s plate is heated which is then circulated in the house using blowers.
Cars use a heat exchanger for cooling the lubricant used in the engine which heats up as the pistons in the engine move at high speed.
Heat Exchanger in Industrial Applications
Power Plants generate steam that rotates the turbine which in turn generates electricity. The steam again makes its way to condense and turns into water. This entire process uses a heat exchanger to convert water into steam and vice versa.
Reduction of heat emission: In most of the industrial processes the heat is usually emitted into the open air, but using a heat exchanger particularly economizer can reduce it. The hot air is redirected to an economizer which puts it to use again for the production or industrial process. This way heat exchangers do play a big part in controlling air pollution.
Waste water management: The water released as effluent has to be of certain grades and temperature and, heat exchangers help in the process.
Hydraulic machinery uses heat exchangers to cool the hydraulic oil, which gets heated up during hydraulic operations.
Generators use oil for lubricating and cooling pistons. This oil is cooled by a heat exchanger.
All industrial installations that use Engines: Engines and their lubricant need to be cooled for the continuous running which is done by heat exchangers.
These were some very common uses of Heat exchangers in the industrial sector. Basically any and all process that involves heating or cooling of any kind need and use heat exchangers.
