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How to Select the Heating and Cooling Fluids for a Cooler
Release date:
26-04-23
When using a cooler to handle the heating and cooling of materials, it is also necessary to consider the selection of the heating medium (heat source) and the cooling medium (cold source). A wide variety of fluids can serve as heating or cooling agents; common heating media for shell-and-tube coolers include saturated steam, flue gas, and hot water. Typical cooling media include water, air, and nitrogen. When choosing heating and cooling agents, the primary factors to consider are ease of procurement, adequate temperature levels, cost-effectiveness, and operational safety.
When using a cooler to handle the heating and cooling of materials, it is also necessary to consider the selection of the heating medium (heat source) and the cooling medium (cold source). A wide variety of fluids can serve as heating or cooling agents; common heating media for shell-and-tube coolers include saturated steam, flue gas, and hot water. Typical cooling media include water, air, and nitrogen. When choosing heating and cooling agents, the primary considerations are ease of procurement, adequate temperature levels, low cost, and safe operation.
(1) Common heating agents used in coolers
1. Saturated steam is a widely used heating medium. Due to its high heat-transfer film coefficient during condensation, the steam’s pressure can be adjusted to precisely control the heating temperature, and it often allows for the utilization of inexpensive steam engines, turbines, and exhaust gases. However, when the temperature of saturated steam exceeds 180°C, very high pressures are required, so it is typically employed only for applications where the heating temperature remains below 180°C.
2. Flue gas generated from the combustion of fuel in a flue has a very high temperature, reaching 700–1000°C, making it suitable for heating applications requiring elevated temperatures. However, heating with flue gas has drawbacks, including its low specific heat capacity, difficult control, and a very low heat transfer film coefficient. In addition to these two commonly used heating media, hot air can also be employed, depending on the specific conditions of the plant. Hot water may likewise serve as a heating medium.
(II) Common Coolants Used in Coolers
Water and air are commonly used coolants; they can be sourced directly from nature without requiring special processing. Compared with air, water has a higher specific heat capacity and a much higher heat transfer coefficient, but air is easier to obtain and handle. Therefore, the choice between the two should be made based on local conditions.
Water and air, when used as coolants, are limited by the local ambient temperature; typical cooling temperatures range from 10 to 25°C. To achieve lower temperatures, refrigerants must be employed; common refrigerants include brine solutions.
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