Air cooled heat exchangers are simply 1 of the numerous different types of heat exchanger. Heat exchangers are devices which have been specifically made for aiding the transfer of heat from one fluid to the other. For us to better fully grasp, common samples of appliances that use heat exchangers include the air conditioners, fridges as well as space heaters.

But let's not dwell too much on the general heat exchanger rather let's at this point look at air cooled heat exchangers or ACHEs for short. It rejects heat from a warm fluid straight away to fan-blowing ambient air. ACHEs can be used whenever a procedure or setup generates heat that must be removed and sadly lacks local use. Your car's radiator is actually an example of ACHE equipment. The engine has to be cooled to prevent overheating due to friction and combustion processes by the engine. The surplus heat is carried away by the water or glycol coolant mix. Most of the heat should be taken away, and the easiest way is by supplying ambient air.

There are many uses of air cooled heat exchangers, such as the upstream production, refineries and petrochemical plants. It can also be used on conditions with high temperatures, high pressure, corrosive fluids and environments. In addition, air coolers could be equipped and used in gas and oil refineries; compressor stations used for gas pipelines; subsurface gas storage facilities; plants producing polychlorvinyl, polyethylene, glass fiber, biplastic; caustic soda plants; by-product coke plants and ammonia transportation and handling plants.

Apart from learning the actual purposes of ACHEs, we should have a peek about how it works inside and its components. Normally, air coolers for process use are composed of a finned-tube bundle with rectangular container headers on both ends of the tubes. Headers are boxers that eliminates the fluid from the piping to the tubes. Other parts consist of one or more fans that give cooling air. The fans are generally powered by electric motors and are supported by speed reducers. The fan drive assemblage is sustained by the metal mechanical drive support system. Generally, the air blows up-wards all the way through a horizontal tube bundle. The fans could be either forced or induced draft, determined by if the air is pushed or pulled through the tube bundle. Forced draft unit enables an easy access for maintenance for the fans and also to the bundles. Additionally, the fans remain within the cold ambient air. While the induced draft unit offers a stable and strong thermal performance because of the protection of the finned surface against wind, rain, hail and snow by the plenum chamber. The induced draft also guarantees an improved air distribution, much less hot air recirculation, much less air-side fouling and reduced noise levels at grade. Space in between the fans and the tube bundle is encircled by a plenum chamber, which guides the air. The entire assembly is normally mounted on legs or a pipe rack.

Understanding and knowing the inside and out of ACHEs is quite difficult, particularly if you have no background in mechanical matters. And because of this, let's once more change our concentration on another subject matter, which is the "why" question. With regards to economy, air coolers are preferred due to the lower maintenance expenses. Some other benefits presented by air coolers are as follows: lack of the need for cooling water or other cooling media, no problem shall arise with regards to the thermal as well as chemical pollution of cooling fluids, and it quite fast to install by bolted assembly.

ACHEs are regarded as a "green" alternative simply because no chemical treatment is needed to the water or fluid used by the assembly. And temperature is the only parameter that needs to be considered whenever getting rid of the water used. With no appropriate heat exchanger equipment, overheating can certainly ruin your equipments and appliances, more particularly the heat exposed parts. Out of all of the things that have been mentioned, if we're to consider the trend the world is moving, air cooled heat exchangers are the best choice for industrial plants as well as other plants when the environment is to be considered.

The writer is an active supporter of green technology. He provides information and praise to pro-environment technological advancements, specially in manufacturing industry. To know more, visit the link below:
Air Cooled Heat Exchangers

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