A heat exchanger is a device that transfers some of the heat from a hot fluid to a cold fluid; it is also called a heat exchanger. Heat exchangers play an important role in chemical, petroleum, power, food, and many other industrial production processes. In chemical production, heat exchangers are widely used as heaters, coolers, condensers, evaporators, and reboilers.
1. A heater heats a fluid to a necessary temperature, but the heated fluid does not undergo a phase change.
2. A preheater preheats the fluid, providing standard process parameters for the operation.
3. A superheater is used to heat a fluid (process gas or steam) to a superheated state.
4. An evaporator heats a fluid to a temperature above its boiling point, causing the fluid to evaporate; this generally involves a phase change.
