Heat Exchanger

A heat exchanger is a device that transfers heat between two fluids without necessarily mixing them, either through a solid barrier separating the streams or through direct contact between them. It works by maximizing the contact surface between the hot and cold fluids while minimizing resistance to their flow; counter-flow arrangements, where the fluids move in opposite directions, typically reach 70 to 90 percent efficiency because they sustain a larger average temperature difference across the unit than parallel-flow designs do. Heat exchangers appear throughout energy systems, from power station condensers and industrial boilers to the automotive radiator, which cools engine coolant by passing it through finned coils that ambient air flows across. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/