KreuzstromWärmetauscher

A KreuzstromWärmetauscher, or cross-flow heat exchanger, is a type of heat exchanger where the two working fluids flow in directions perpendicular to each other. One fluid flows through a series of tubes, and the other fluid flows across these tubes. This arrangement allows for efficient heat transfer between the two fluids.

The primary advantage of a cross-flow heat exchanger is its compactness and relatively simple construction. They are commonly used in applications where space is limited, such as in automotive radiators, air conditioning systems, and some industrial processes. The design allows for a large heat transfer surface area within a relatively small volume.

In a typical cross-flow configuration, the fluid that flows through the tubes is often a liquid, while the fluid flowing across the tubes is a gas. This is because gases generally have lower heat transfer coefficients than liquids, and forcing the gas to flow across a large surface area of tubes maximizes contact and heat exchange. The tube side fluid can be at a higher pressure than the shell side fluid.

There are different variations of cross-flow heat exchangers. In a single-pass cross-flow exchanger, each fluid passes through the exchanger only once. In multi-pass configurations, one or both fluids may change direction multiple times within the exchanger to increase the overall heat transfer effectiveness. The efficiency of a cross-flow heat exchanger is influenced by factors such as the flow rates of the fluids, their physical properties, and the geometry of the heat transfer surfaces.