Heat exchanger

Processing & Refining Equipment

A heat exchanger is a device designed to efficiently transfer heat from one fluid to another without them mixing. In refining and processing, they are ubiquitous for heating crude oil (using hot products) to recover energy, or cooling products before storage.

The most common type is the shell-and-tube exchanger. Fouling (accumulation of deposits) is a major operational challenge that reduces efficiency and requires regular maintenance. Plate-and-frame exchangers are also used for compact, high-efficiency applications.