Heat Exchanger

Definition

A device with a thin metal barrier that passes energy between two fluids without letting them mix.

The hot process fluid hits one side, energy conducts through the metal, and the coolant absorbs it on the other, depending entirely on the coolant staying in continuous coherent contact with the surface. Metal’s freely moving electrons make it an excellent conductor for this transaction. If the coolant fails to hold proximity and coherence, heat leaks away, temperature gradients form, and hot spots develop.

Related concepts

Convection · Sensible Heat · Cohesion

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🛠️ operations