Air heat exchangers have a wide array of applications in various industries such as refrigeration and air conditioning, aerospace, energy and petrochemical. If you are one of the leading air heat exchanger manufacturers, you need to keep your knowledge up-to-date to stay ahead of other air heat exchanger suppliers. If you wish to establish yourself as an air heat exchanger supplier, you need to understand the basics of air heat exchanger design and operation.

Air heat exchanger distributors offer many types of non-industrial and industrial heat exchangers such as air-to-air heat exchangers and water to air heat exchangers. Therefore, choosing the right air heat exchanger for your application can become a difficult task. Proper education about heat exchangers can help you choose the right air heat exchanger for your specific application.

To educate yourself and/or your workforce about air heat exchangers, you can:

1. Browse various resources that provide basic information about air heat exchangers
2. Join certification courses in heat exchanger technology and application
3. Opt for continual education programs
4. Subscribe to magazines dedicated to the thermal processing industry

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for a beginners' course that provides an introduction to air heat exchanger technology

If you are a beginner in the field of air heat exchangers, you can join a beginners' course in heat transfer process or heat exchanger technology and application. These courses cover the basics of air heat exchangers in their syllabi.

I recommend: You can join a course in elementary heat transfer at the College of Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, Thermal Engineering Associates offers a basic course in heat exchanger analysis.

Opt for continual education programs for advanced knowledge about air heat exchangers

If you have acquired a good understanding of air heat exchangers, you can learn more about heat transfer and air heat exchangers by joining continual education programs that include advanced education about heat exchangers in their syllabi.

I recommend: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International) offers a short course in heat exchanger design and operation along with an online self-study course and online instructor-led course in heat transfer process. In addition, if you want to train your workforce on air heat exchangers, you can take a course on thermal design of shell and tube heat exchangers by Aspen Technology, a software company that focuses on optimizing process manufacturing.

Subscribe to magazines and journals to update your knowledge about air heat exchangers

If you are an air heat exchanger manufacturer or distributor, you need to keep your knowledge about air heat exchangers up-to-date to stay ahead of your competitors. You can subscribe to magazines and journals that provide updates on the latest developments in the heat exchangers business.

I recommend: Process Heating is a magazine that provides useful updates on the thermal processing and manufacturing industry, including heat exchanger operation and technology. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes a journal along with e-newsletters, handbooks and guides that provide updates on the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. In addition, you can subscribe to International Journal of Heat Exchangers, a journal that publishes research articles relating to all types of heat exchangers.

Air heat exchangers are shoebox-shaped pressure vessels that circulate fluid with the force of ambient, or outdoor, air around filters or tubes with finned features. With finned filters or tubes as barriers, air heat exchangers process using fluids such as water, fused salts, mercury or steam. Common types include air to air heat exchangers, which filter clean air during processing, and water to air heat exchangers, which use water for heating and cooling processes. Air heat exchangers are made from stainless steel, brass or copper, and in addition to heating and air conditioning, they also function for facility ventilation and refrigeration.

Common examples of air heat exchangers include engine radiators, combustion preheaters, steam condensers and turbine lube oil coolers. Pick a shoebox-sized heat exchanger for home cooling or office use, or an industrial heat exchanger for power plant applications. Air heat exchangers can be a useful part of your business if you're in the petrochemical or petroleum industries. You may also need industrial heat exchangers if you can or process foods.

1. Find air heat exchangers suitable for industrial, commercial or home use.

2. Buy air heat exchanger accessories that improve efficiency.

3. Seek air heat exchangers that meet safety standards.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search for air heat exchanger manufacturers for commercial, industrial or home cooling needs

Find a heat exchanger for home cooling or industrial purposes, designed and built by air heat exchanger manufacturers.

I recommend: Noren Products manufactures water to air heat exchangers that cool effectively and require little maintenance. Active Radiator Supply Company offers air to air heat exchangers and water to air heat exchangers. Lynchburg Air Preheater supplies air heat exchangers for power plants and other industries.

Accessories help maintain the efficiency of air heat exchangers

Backup pumps and replacement filters keep air heat exchangers running smoothly.

I recommend: Dry Coolers supplies air heat exchangers and accessories. GEA Rainey features accessories such as finned tubes, gaskets and plugs for air heat exchangers.

Make sure that air heat exchanger distributors feature certified equipment

Air heat exchangers of all sizes should be built to meet safety requirements and designed to avoid hazardous spills or other mishaps.

I recommend: R&H Technical Sales distributes air heat exchangers that are ASME-compliant. X-Wire Technology's air heat exchangers and water to air heat exchangers also meet ASME, API and TEMA standards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most air heat exchangers are green, or environmentally safe to use in the home or factory. Air heat exchanger suppliers offer units that operate at 13, 35 and 100 watts for energy efficiency.
• •  The fluid barrier of an air heat exchanger, also known as the finned tube pipe or filter, is usually made from a metal plate, plastic or graphite. These materials work best because they resist corrosion.

An air heat exchanger is a component that allows the transfer of heat from one fluid (liquid or gas) to another fluid. It is very useful in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries and natural gas processing.

For a better understanding of air heat exchangers, here are some key terms you may come across while dealing with service providers or manufacturers of air heat exchangers, such as CFM, HVAC, BTU, fouling, convection and compressor.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute)

CFM is the unit for measuring the volume rate of airflow, as in a heating system. All motorized vents have a CFM rating that defines the vent's capacity to move air. A higher CFM number indicates a greater vent capacity, and speedier heating.

I recommend: Building Automation Products, Inc. (PDF), a manufacturer of sensors and solutions for HVAC/R, provides information about CFM.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)

HVAC is referred to as climate control and is important in large industrial and office buildings, where regulation of humidity and temperature is necessary. The primary use of HVAC is to regulate room temperature, humidity and air flow to keep workers and residents comfortable.

I recommend: For information about HVAC, you can refer to AirConditioning-and-Heating.com - an informative website for the HVAC industry.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

BTU is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has and the amount of output of any heat generating device.

I recommend: You can read through basic information on BTU at Energy Vortex .

Fouling

Fouling is the accumulation of unwanted materials on the surface of processing equipment. It can hamper the operation of a heat exchanger.

I recommend: Wolverine Tube, Inc. (PDF), a manufacturer of custom-engineered components for the HVAC and power generation industry, provides necessary information about fouling.

Convection

Convection refers to movement of heated molecules from one place to another, such as when warm air rises and cooler air sinks, creating a current or air flow. Air and water are the most frequently used convection mediums.

I recommend: eFunda provides insights about the convection theory in heat transfer.

Latent heat

Latent heat can change a substance from liquid to vapor or vapor to liquid, without changing the temperature of the substance.

I recommend: To understand the basics of latent heat, you can refer to Splung.com - an online information resource for various physics concepts.

Enthalpy

Enthalpy is the total quantity of energy used to heat or cool a substance between two temperatures, including the energy used to change the state of the substance, if applicable.

I recommend: For information about enthalpy, you can browse through NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) website.