Putkikotelovaihdin

Putkikotelovaihdin is a term used for a heat exchanger integrated with or installed alongside a pipe enclosure (putkikotelo). It is designed to facilitate heat transfer between the contents of a pipe and the surrounding medium, typically air or another fluid within the enclosure. The aim is to recover or redistribute heat in order to reduce energy losses and improve overall energy efficiency in building services and industrial piping systems.

Design and variants

Putkikotelovaihdis can take several forms, including plate, shell-and-tube, or compact heat exchanger configurations. They may be built as part of the pipe’s protective casing or mounted adjacent to the pipeline within the same enclosure. Materials commonly used include stainless steel, copper, and aluminum, selected for compatibility with the transported medium and operating temperatures. The exchanger can operate in counterflow or crossflow arrangements, often with fins or enhanced surfaces to boost heat transfer.

Applications

These devices are employed in various sectors, such as district heating and hot-water distribution, cooling circuits, and industrial processes where heat needs to be recovered or controls tightened. They are also used in ventilation and energy recovery systems to extract heat from exhaust streams or to pre-warm air using heat from hot pipes, thereby reducing external energy requirements.

Benefits and considerations

Benefits include reduced heat loss from piping, lower energy consumption for heating or cooling, and improved thermal management. Key considerations involve proper insulation around the enclosure to maximize effectiveness, material compatibility with process fluids, maintenance access, and adherence to relevant building and safety codes. Regular inspection for leaks, corrosion, and fouling is advised to maintain performance.

See also: insulation, heat exchanger, pipe insulation, energy recovery ventilation.