Cross-Flow Or Parallel Flow Choosing The Right Heat Exchanger For The Job


Technology can’t do all the work. Maintenance goes a long way in making sure your equipment is running efficiently year-round.

Learning the art of maintenance is only possible when you have a better working knowledge of the products you buy. Circulation heaters are a relatively common ingredient in today’s heaters, coolers and boilers, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to understand. In fact, learning the difference between brands can seem like a completely new language to the uninitiated. Should you find yourself in need of buying Advantage chillers or taking better care of your heat transfer coils, brushing up on your knowledge is a great place to start truly reaping the benefits of your purchase.

What is makes the Standard Xchange system stand out? How do you make sure you’re not buying an incompatible model? The list below will cover the basics and get you feeling more confident about heating and cooling.

The Heat Exchanger Industry

Heating and cooling is a vibrant industry. You can find its impact playing out just about everywhere. Rather than be intimidated by numbers, embrace the sheer volume of technology at your perusal. There’s a lot to learn and enjoy on your way to saving more money with your equipment! Back in 2013 the boiler and heat exchanger manufacturing industry in the United States pulled in a revenue of $7 billion. The market is projected to reach $20 billion by 2021 and is experiencing a CAGR of 8%.

Three Types Of Heat Exchangers

There are three types of heat exchangers you should know about. You have your parallel-flow (also known as counterflow configuration), cross-flow configuration and shell-and-tube configuration. Maintenance is key to enjoying the most out of your equipment, but you need to make sure you’re buying the right ones in the first place. Parallel flow heat exchangers have both the tube side fluid and the shell side fluid flow in the same direction. The cross-flow heat exchangers, on the other hand, have one fluid flowing through tubes and the second around the tubes in a perpendicular motion.

Two Types Of Chillers

Maybe the Standard Xchange heat exchanger isn’t what you’re seeking out. What kind of chillers should you keep an eye out for? The two types available on the market are the water-cooled and the air-cooled. Water-cooled chillers are usually installed indoors and tend to last much longer than air-cooled models. That’s not to say air-cooled models don’t have their place! Chiller systems today are the single largest consumers of electrical usage in the majority of American facilities, with some estimates seeing as much as 50% energy consumption.

How Heat Exchanging Works

Now to take a look at how the magic happens. Heat exchangers, simply put, are used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. They can also be used to transfer heat between a solid surface and a fluid or between solid particles and a fluid. They need to take into account different temperatures, thermal contact and different materials, all at once. The close proximity of process fluids within a diffusion bonded heat exchanger core creates the high heat transfer rate we enjoy in educational establishments, clinics and businesses today.

Tips For Maintaining Your Heat Exchangers

You’ve learned more about heat exchangers, brands like Standard Xchange and what you should expect from the industry going forward. How do you keep your heat transfer coils working smoothly? The shell portion of the heat exchanger has been found to last up to 40 years without corrosion if looked after properly. Any strange sounds coming from your coils is often sign of contamination or a clog, both of which should be looked at immediately. Choosing the right heat exchanger or cooler will also help with the longevity of your product. One-size-fits-all is for socks, not fuel oil heaters!

Knowledge is powerful. How will you use yours to get the best Standard Xchange deal on the market?

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