How Modern Heat Exchangers Benefitted and Revolutionized Industries

sanket bachute
Energy and Environment
4 min readSep 30, 2019

Heat exchange is a basic technology used to transfer heat from one fluid to another, to maintain the temperature. The exchangers contain both the streams of cold and hot fluid. The technology is used for both domestic and industrial sectors for heating systems, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Moreover, industries including petroleum refineries, sewage treatment, chemical plants, and nuclear power facilities require heat exchangers. Heat exchangers have various types for different purposes. In industrial plants and factories, heat exchangers are required for machinery, chemicals, gas, water, and other substances to keep under a safe operating temperature. Moreover, modern heat exchangers are more adaptable and can perform various tasks. Heat exchangers can be of following types:

  • Suction heaters
  • Shell & tube heat exchangers
  • Bayonet heaters

With advanced technology, heat exchangers have been condensed, which made it easily useful for small-sized items including air conditioners and portable heaters. Technology reduced the production cost of heat exchangers. The welded plates used in early models of heat exchangers have been replaced with pressed plates, which are less expensive. On the other hand, pressed plates are also resistant to corrosion and chemical reactions. The technological advances in heat exchangers have made them more attractive and advantageous for both large and small firms. According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the global heat exchangers market is projected to reach $29.31 billion at a CAGR of 7.2% from — to 2026.

Following are some of the advantages of modern heat exchangers:

  • Easily expandable: Modern heat exchangers are easily expandable, which increase heat transfer capability. It is adjustable according to your heat transfer requirements.
  • Easily removable: The tie bolts are can be removed and slide back the movable frame. Furthermore, the machine can be inspected, cleaned, and repaired.
  • Small size and easy maintenance: Modern heat exchangers have a small size, compact structure, and low consumables. It can be effortlessly cleaned and has straightforward maintenance.
  • Fouling Criteria: The fouling factors in the recent heat exchangers as the large flow disturbance does not allow the dirt to be easily deposited. Furthermore, a plate is made of corrosion-resistant material, which lessens the value of the fouling coefficient.

Other than this, various companies have advanced heat exchangers to provide better service. Spirax Sarco has introduced a steam-to-water heat exchanger. SWEP, a world-leading company, has exhibited a brand-new brazed plate heat exchanger along with its two other ideal heat exchangers. Moreover, Alfa Laval received an order for an air cooler system worth SEK 110 million.

SWEP introduced a brand-new brazed plate heat exchanger:

SWEP, world-leading brazed plate heat exchangers, exhibited brazed plate heat exchangers (BHPE) in South Asia’s largest exhibition, for air conditioning, ventilation, heating, and intelligent buildings. According to SWEP, it will be useful for high-efficiency, condensers, and evaporators in water chillers and heat pumps. The company has designed the BHPE with an innovative asymmetric design technology. The BHPE can reduce water pressure drop and refrigerant charge while improving heat transfer.

Apart from this, SWEP promoted its ideal BHPEs B649 and 320HT , for district cooling and heating networks at the show.

Spirax Sarco launches a steam-to-water heat exchanger for limited spaced plants:

Spirax Sarco, a British-based manufacturer of steam system engineering has enlarged its product design edge with a steam-to-water heat exchanger for limited spaced plants. The heat exchanger provides a maximum, instant output of hot water at a constant temperature. Furthermore, the innovative coil design requires only 39 square feet of floor space. The heat exchanger helps to decrease plant energy costs with its improved performance. According to the product manager of the company, the spiralHeat heat exchangers have filled a product void for companies that have smaller plants, by providing a space-saving and budget-friendly solution that is easily and quickly installable. Furthermore, he added, every unit is configured as per the customer’s requirements and preassembled and tested, minimizing set-up costs at the customer’s location. Moreover, the stainless-steel shell and coil exchanger extends its life and an insulated jacket which lowers energy costs by reducing heat loss, are the additional features that make it cost-efficient for the customers. The SpiralHeat exchanger is stable for low temperatures hot water applications such as Washdown, laundry, and building heating.

Alfa Laval has received an order supply worth SEK 110 million, by a gas processing plant:

Alfa Laval, a top-leading company for heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling, has recently received an order to provide air cooler systems, by a gas processing plant in the U.S. The order is valued nearly SEK 110 million.

The order consists of air cooler systems by Alfa Laval Niagara. Furthermore, the coolers will be used as a part of the refrigeration system for separating natural gas into its streams — butane, propane, and ethane.

The technological developments in the heat exchangers have made them more beneficial for various purposes, and therefore, the rate of adoption by industrial plants and companies has been raised. Furthermore, its low energy cost, price-efficiency, and size have made it more demanding in industrial and domestic sectors.

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sanket bachute
Energy and Environment

Sanket Bachute writes about technology, environment and energy. I like things mainly in the business and research.