Feature
HEAT EXCHANGERS AND
MEETING NEW WORLD DEMANDS
By Benjamin Brits
In the increasing equation of efficiency improvement and integrated building or facility services , making use of every bit of energy will be the order of the day in the near future .
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Danfoss Alfa Laval
The application of heat exchangers has grown substantially over recent years as well as their genius-deployment to harvest and offset energy towards other needs from several sources . The most known example today is the use of these to supplement water storage for domestic use or cleaning applications that was historically “ wasted energy ” or “ waste heat ” commonly referred to in the sector from the plant / equipment cycle . But their potential is much further reaching today – including the creation of novel technologies .
An example of how a plate heat exchanger works .
Plate heat exchangers come in different designs and sizes to meet various application needs .
RACA Journal I January 2023
A heat exchanger , in simple terms , is a heat transfer device that exchanges heat ( energy ) between two or more fluids ( generally - from a process function ) and has widespread industrial and domestic applications . Many types of heat exchangers have been developed over time for use in energy , chemical processing plants , building heat and air conditioning , transportation , electronics and refrigeration systems , to name but a few .
The “ actual design ” of a heat exchanger can be a complicated matter and generally involves more than heattransfer analysis alone . The cost of fabrication and installation , materials , weight and size all play important roles in the selection of the final design from a total cost of ownership point of view – which has become an important factor for clients in today ’ s environment . In many cases too , although cost is an important consideration , footprint often tends to be the most significant factor in choosing a design as allocated plant areas become smaller and smaller .
Historical information suggests that the most basic examples of heat exchanging devices were found in Europe from the Roman era , where systems referred to today as “ recuperators ” were used in baths . It is also stated that around the turn of the first millennium , the principles for indirect heat exchange were used in the production of pure alcohol , which still is the major basis of heat exchangers now .
From a formal documentation perspective , heat exchangers can be traced back to around the 1880s , where their major applications were in the food and beverage industries . Interestingly , the first recorded patent for a plate heat exchanger was awarded in 1878 , however , the first modern and commercial examples of heat exchangers would only be observed from the early 1900s . This was when the first known designs for tubular heat exchangers was developed catering to the operational demands from power plants , and used as condensers , as well as feedwater heaters ( both of which are still common applications for these functions ).
Over the time between the late 1880s and 1920s , several developments were made for plate heat exchangers which resulted in many patents covering its different forms , particularly
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