A heat exchanger is a device that transfers thermal energy between two or more fluids (liquids or gases) without mixing them. It is used to either heat a cold fluid or cool a hot fluid by passing them through a barrier that allows heat to pass through but keeps the fluids separate.
How It Works
The process relies on basic thermodynamics and heat transfer principles:
Separation: A hot fluid and a cold fluid flow through separate channels, separated by a solid, highly conductive barrier (usually metal).
Transfer: Heat naturally moves from the hotter fluid, through the metal barrier, to the colder fluid.
Efficiency: The materials and internal surfaces are designed to maximize the surface area and encourage fluid turbulence, making the transfer as fast as possible.
