CHOOSING THE RIGHT
HEAT EXCHANGER
In the simplest terms , a heat exchanger is like a radiator , designed to heat ( or cool ) one material from another . However , over the last 150 years or so , a wide variety of types and designs have emerged , meaning that fi nding the most suitable type of heat exchanger for your application is not always simple .
For the most challenging applications scraped surface heat exchangers ( such as the rotating HRS R Series ) are recommended
All but the most basic heat exchangers are created to a bespoke brief , designed to take into account the material / s being heated or cooled , the heating or cooling medium , the amount of product being processed , product velocity , risk of fouling and a host of other factors .
However , over the years some standard design types have emerged ( as well as more specific types ) and understanding the differences between these can make the specification process less of a mystery .
In this article , we guide you through the main types of heat exchangers produced by HRS Heat Exchangers and what applications and product types each is best suited to .
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
When specifying a heat exchanger , the fi rst consideration is whether your application requires complete stainlesssteel construction for hygiene reasons ; for example , in the food and beverage industry .
Next , you should consider the nature of the material being processed , in particular its viscosity and whether it contains particles . The simpler and less viscous the material being processed , the simpler the heat exchanger can be . As materials become thicker , or contain suspended particles or large solids , then heat exchange becomes more difficult , and more sophisticated designs are required to guarantee the necessary performance .
Starting with simple multi tube designs , the range moves through double tubes – where viscosity is higher or solids are present – and annular space designs for highly viscous products , to the most challenging materials ( such as food stuffs containing pieces or very thick products like honey ) requiring the use of scraped surface heat exchangers .
Another consideration is what happens in the event of a leak . In certain circumstances , particularly where the service fl uid is not water , a leak can be business critical . In such cases , double tubeplate multitube heat exchangers should be specified , as these provide leak detection in order to avoid cross contamination between the service and product fluids .
MAIN HEAT EXCHANGER TYPES
Most heat transfer applications will require the use of corrugated tube heat exchangers . These offer a number of benefi ts over smooth tube designs – in particular , heat transfer and energy effi ciency are increased ( making them better for high-capacity heating or cooling ). Fouling is also minimised meaning that units can be more compact and economical , and cleaning and servicing requirements are reduced .
For the most challenging applications ( such as materials with high fouling potential , or where certain product characteristics are required ), scraped surface heat exchangers are recommended . Depending on whether the product needs gentle handling or increased mixing , HRS offers rotating and reciprocating designs .
Whatever food or drink product you need to process , whether warming dairy products ahead of processing , or pasteurising juices , thick pastes or meat slurries , HRS have the ideal heat exchanger for you , and the expert staff to help you find it .
For more information contact + 44 1923 545 625 , info @ uk . hrs-he . com or visit www . hrs-heatexchangers . com