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2018

Classification of heat exchangers

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Heat exchangers, as heat transfer devices, are ubiquitous and widely used in industry, especially in energy-intensive fields. With the rapid development of energy-saving technologies, the types of heat exchangers are increasing, suitable for different media, operating conditions, temperatures, and pressures, each with different structures and forms. The variety of heat exchangers continues to evolve with the development of new and efficient heat exchangers. The specific classification is as follows: 1. Classification by principle: 1. Direct contact heat exchangers. The main working principle of this type of heat exchanger is that two media transfer heat through direct contact, achieving heat transfer. The contact area directly affects the amount of heat transfer.

Heat exchangers are ubiquitous as heat transfer devices and are widely used in industry, especially in energy-intensive fields. With the rapid development of energy-saving technologies, the types of heat exchangers are increasing. Heat exchangers suitable for different media, operating conditions, temperatures, and pressures have different structures and forms. The types of heat exchangers are continuously updated with the development of new and efficient heat exchangers, and the specific classifications are as follows:

1. Classification by principle:

1. Direct contact heat exchangers

The main working principle of this type of heat exchanger is that two media transfer heat to each other through contact, achieving heat transfer, where the contact area directly affects the amount of heat transfer. One of the media is usually a gas, and the other is a liquid, mainly involving tower equipment as the main body of the heat transfer device. However, it usually also involves mass transfer, making it difficult to distinguish its relationship with tower devices, and it is generally classified as tower-type equipment, with cooling towers used in power plants being the most typical direct contact heat exchangers.

2. Thermal energy storage heat exchangers (referred to as thermal storage devices)

This type of heat exchanger is used very rarely. The principle is that the hot medium first passes through a solid material to reach a certain temperature, and then the cold medium is heated by passing through the solid material to achieve the desired heat transfer.

3. Wall-type heat exchangers

This type of heat exchanger is used extensively, accounting for more than 99% of the total. The principle is that the hot medium transfers heat to the cold medium through metal or non-metal materials. This type of heat exchanger is commonly referred to as shell-and-tube, plate, plate-fin, or plate-and-shell heat exchangers.

2. Classification by heat transfer type

1. Heat transfer without phase change

Generally divided into heaters and coolers.

2. Heat transfer with phase change

Generally divided into condensers and reboilers. Reboilers are further divided into kettle reboilers, siphon reboilers, reboilers, evaporators, steam generators, and waste heat boilers.

3. Classification by heat transfer elements

1. Tubular heat transfer elements

(1) Floating head heat exchangers

(2) Fixed tube sheet heat exchangers

(3) Packing box heat exchangers

(4) U-tube heat exchangers

(5) Snake tube heat exchangers

(6) Double shell heat exchangers

(7) Single tube heat exchangers

(8) Multi-tube heat exchangers

(9) External flow tube heat exchangers

(10) Baffle rod heat exchangers

(11) Heat pipe heat exchangers

(12) Insert tube heat exchangers

(13) Sliding tube sheet heat exchangers

2. Plate heat transfer elements

(1) Spiral plate heat exchangers

(2) Plate heat exchangers

(3) Plate-fin heat exchangers

(4) Plate-and-shell heat exchangers

(5) Plate evaporators

(6) Plate condensers

(7) Printed circuit board heat exchangers

4. Classification of non-metallic material heat exchangers

(1) Graphite heat exchangers

(2) Fluoroplastic heat exchangers

(3) Ceramic fiber composite material heat exchangers

(4) Fiberglass heat exchangers

5. Classification of air-cooled heat exchangers

(1) Dry air coolers

(2) Wet air coolers

(3) Combined dry and wet air coolers

(4) Power station air coolers

(5) Surface evaporation air coolers

(6) Plate air coolers

(7) Energy recovery air coolers

(8) Natural convection air coolers

(9) High-pressure air coolers

(10) Perforated plate heat exchangers

6. Classification by enhanced heat transfer elements

(1) Threaded tube heat exchangers

(2) Corrugated tube heat exchangers

(3) Special-shaped tube heat exchangers

(4) Surface porous tube heat exchangers

(5) Spiral flat tube heat exchangers

(6) Spiral groove tube plate heat exchangers

(7) Ring groove tube heat exchangers

(8) Longitudinal groove tube heat exchangers

(9) Spiral wrapped tube heat exchangers

(11) T-shaped finned tube heat exchangers

(12) New structure high-efficiency heat exchangers

(13) Inserted object heat exchangers

(14) Sawtooth tube heat exchangers

There are many types of heat exchangers, which can also be classified by tube boxes and other criteria. Each type of heat exchanger is used for specific operating conditions. Therefore, different types of heat exchangers should be selected based on the medium, temperature, pressure, and usage scenarios to maximize advantages and minimize disadvantages, resulting in greater economic benefits.

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+86-23-63521388

+8613500387128

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Baishiyi, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing

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Chongqing Southwest Saiwell Heat Exchange Equipment Co., Ltd.

Specializing in the research, development, production and sales, equipment consulting, maintenance, and accessory services of heat exchange technology, equipment, and systems, and undertaking the design and installation of thermal system engineering, energy conservation and emission reduction, and energy conservation and emission reduction system engineering.

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