Mechanical engineeringLesson 1 of 3 in the course Fluid and thermal machines

Heat Exchanger Design, Types, Applications, and Performance

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

A heat exchanger transfers thermal energy between a source and a working fluid. This lesson introduces the basic purpose of heat exchangers, where they are used, and how the arrangement of fluid flows affects performance.

A heat exchanger is a system that transfers heat between two or more fluids, or between a fluid and another heat source or sink. It can be used for heating, cooling, or both. In many designs, a solid wall separates the fluids so they exchange heat without mixing. In a direct-contact exchanger, the streams touch and exchange heat directly.

All flashcards

What is a heat exchanger?
A system that transfers heat between fluids, or between a fluid and another heat source or sink.
What is direct-contact heat exchange?
Heat transfer in which the fluid streams touch and exchange heat without a separating wall.
What is the main thermal advantage of counter-flow?
Opposing flow directions generally maintain a larger average temperature difference along the exchanger.
What is fouling in a heat exchanger?
The buildup of deposits on heat-transfer surfaces, which can reduce performance and restrict flow.
What is a heat sink?
A component that carries heat away from a device and releases it to air or another coolant.

Quiz questions

  1. In direct-contact heat exchange, how do the fluid streams exchange heat?Answer: They touch each other without a separating wall.
  2. What is one function of baffles in a shell-and-tube exchanger?Answer: They support tubes and direct shell-side flow.
  3. What phase change occurs in a condenser?Answer: Vapor becomes liquid as heat is removed.
  4. Which application is associated with plate-and-fin heat exchangers?Answer: Low-temperature gas processing and air separation.
  5. Why must an HVAC cooling coil handle latent cooling as well as sensible cooling?Answer: Cooling air can condense and remove moisture.

Based on the Wikipedia article Heat exchanger, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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