Heat Exchanger
A heat exchanger transfers heat between two fluids without mixing them — for example recovering heat from hot flue gas or process streams to preheat feedwater or air. Efficient heat exchange is central to energy recovery and process efficiency.
Common types include shell-and-tube, plate, and air-cooled exchangers. They are the workhorses of waste-heat recovery: capturing energy that would otherwise be vented and reusing it elsewhere in the plant. Fouling and poor maintenance degrade their effectiveness over time, which is why condition monitoring and cleaning schedules matter for sustained efficiency.
Related reading
Related terms
Waste Heat Recovery · Economiser · Boiler Efficiency · Approach Temperature · Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD) · NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) · Recuperator
Related guides
Where this applies
Retrofitting waste-heat recovery · Integrating an industrial heat pump · Optimising cooling tower performance · Preheating combustion air · Maintaining surface condenser vacuum performance · Optimising cooling water treatment · Maintaining a thermal oil heating system · Deciding whether to retube a heat exchanger