A heat exchanger is a device designed to efficiently transfer heat between two or more fluids (liquids, gases, or a combination of both) without mixing them. Heat exchangers are widely used in industries, power plants, refrigeration, air conditioning, automotive systems, and many engineering applications.

Working Principle: The basic principle of a heat exchanger is thermal conduction and convection. One fluid carries heat, which is transferred through a solid wall (usually metal) to another fluid. Depending on the flow arrangement, heat exchangers can be parallel flow, counterflow, or crossflow.

Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

• Consists of a series of tubes inside a cylindrical shell.
• One fluid flows inside the tubes while the other flows around them within the shell.
• Commonly used in power plants, chemical industries, and refineries.