Heat Exchangers Flashcards
Why is understanding the heat exchanger process so important?
Many processes use dangerous fluids(toxic, flammable or termperature extreme)
Depending on The fluids in the exchanger, ________ and purging may be required and valves pumps or compressors will need to be_______
Venting
Locked out
What are the different types of matter used in a heat exchangers to cool the material?
Gas to gas
Liquid to gas
Liquid to liquid
Gas to gas heat exchange is typically used with what ________
Compressors
As compressors get into higher compression ratios or higher flow the heat exchange is ______to gas method
Liquid - glycol or water is common to cool compressed gas
Liquid to liquid is very common heat exchange method in the industry. What is the main difference?
Both sides of the tubes has liquid
What are the three means of heat transfer?
Conduction
Convection
And radiation
Which is the most important forms of heat transfer used in heat exchangers?
Conduction
Why is copper typically used in heat exchangers?
Has a high thermal conductivity rating
All metals are better thermal conductors than liquids, liquids are better conductors than______.
Gas
Conductivity of silver is 750 times that of water
Water conducts heat 25 times better than air
Convection occurs when?
Movement of a mass of fluid from a warm location to a cooler one.
Central heating is a good example of that
Convection currents are often increased through the use of auxiliary equipment such as? This is called ________\
Pumps or fans are used to move mass
This is called forced convection
Heat exchangers use both conduction and ________ methods of heat transfer.
Convection
The last type of heat transfer? Minor part in heat exchangers.
Radiation
What are the different flow path arrangements in heat exchangers?
Parallel flow
Counter flow
Cross flow
Mixed flow
Parallel flow
Fluid flow in same direction
Counter flow
Much more efficient than parallel flow.
Cross flow
More efficient that parallel but not as efficient as counter. Advantage is able to produce more turbulence, which makes for greater efficiency for given size exchanger.
Mixed flow
Uses baffles to cause flow to switch between parallel and counter flow
What are the different designs of heat exchanger?
Finned tube
Plate
Spiral
Cooling towers - natural draft
- mechanical draft
Double pipe
Shell and tube
Finned tube
Most common
Car radiator
Plate heat exchanger
A number of pressed plates clamped together on a frame with gaskets between the plates.
Spacing is between 2-5 mm
Advantages of plate heat exchangers
- Low fouling
- high heat transfer
- little floor space required
- little clearance needed
- no insulation required
- little vibration
Disadvantages of plate heat exchangers
- limited by pressure and temperature
2.07 kPa and 175degree C - not recommended for viscous (thick) fluids or fluids that change viscosity with heat
- small clearance between plays limits the size of solids passing though
- high pressure drops not suitable for air coolers and gas to gas services
Spiral heat exchanger
Very efficient do to both fluids having a true counter flow path. The single path for each side eliminates dead bypass areas which lessons fouling.
Continually curving passage creates high turbulence
What is the purpose of a cooling tower?
Recycle cooling water for large scale applications such as air conditions and power generation.
What is the general principle of a cooling tower?
Water to be cooled is pumped to the top of the tower where it is sprayed through nozzles to give a fine spray
Efficiency of a cooling tower depends on?
- area of water (smaller droplets give larger surface area)
- length of contact time between air and water
- relative humidity
What are the two classes of cooling towers?
Natural draft and
Mechanical draft
Natural draft cooling towers depend on ________ operate effectively in _________ with fairly steady wind. Maintenance is fairly simple since limited moving parts
Wind conditions
Large open areas