What are the operating principles of a cross-flow heat exchanger?
Marco Noacco, Oesse R&D Manager, shows them using an elementary model.
– Watch the 1° part of our guide to heat exchangers: different types of coolers –
A cross-flow heat exchanger is mainly composed of a cooling core and a fan. The fluid to be cooled flows through the core channels and the fan moves the air through the cooler.
A functional dimensioning is the result of different elements according to the required application context:
- Fan absorption power
- Pressure drop of the fluid to be cooled
- Space
- Noise
- Price
Each element is measurable and necessary.
Oesse value proposition involves all the aspects concerning the aimed target. So it’s important to identify the customer’s design priorities in order to customize the cross-flow heat exchanger.
This allows to reduce the engineering timing and to decrease costs.
Let’s see in detail how to balance these elements.
If we reduce the surface of the core, we must increase its thickness and use a more performing fan.
This choice leads to a lower pressure drop and requires less space. The fan absorption power and the noise level will instead increase, while the price will remain stable.
If we increase the surface of the core, we can decrease its thickness and use a less performing fan. In this case we will benefit of a lower fan absorption power, noise level and price, while the pressure drop and the needed space will increase.
To increase the cooling power, we can either use a more performing fan: the pressure drop and the needed space will not change, the fan absorption power, the noise level and the price will increase; or a cooler with a bigger surface: this choice leads to a lower fan absorption power and noise level, while the needed space and the price will increase, finally the pressure drop will not change.
At Oesse we daily use this method to develop the best customized heat exchange units.
In the next clip we will talk about the compactness of the heat exchangers.
Contact our R&D department to request more information.
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