Industry information - Industrial purification heat recovery

What is the difference between the crossflow and counter flow heat exchangers?

The main difference between crossflow and counterflow heat exchangers lies in the direction in which the two fluids flow relative to each other.

Counterflow Heat Exchanger:
- In a counterflow heat exchanger, the two fluids flow in opposite directions. This arrangement maximizes the temperature gradient between the fluids, which improves heat transfer efficiency.
- Benefit: The counterflow design is typically more efficient because the temperature difference between the fluids is maintained across the entire length of the heat exchanger. This makes it ideal for applications where maximizing heat transfer is crucial.
Crossflow Heat Exchanger:
- In a crossflow heat exchanger, the two fluids flow perpendicular (at an angle) to each other. One fluid typically flows in a single direction, while the other flows in a direction that crosses the first fluid’s path.
- Benefit: While the crossflow arrangement is not as thermally efficient as counterflow, it can be useful when space or design constraints exist. It is often used in situations where the fluids must flow in fixed paths, such as in air-cooled heat exchangers or situations with phase changes (e.g., condensation or evaporation).

Key Differences:

Flow Direction: Counterflow = opposite directions; Crossflow = perpendicular directions.
Efficiency: Counterflow tends to have higher heat transfer efficiency due to the more consistent temperature gradient between fluids.
Applications: Crossflow is often used where counterflow isn't feasible due to design limitations or space constraints.

Radiators for Sodium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Containers

Radiators for sodium-ion battery energy storage containers are critical for thermal management, ensuring battery performance, safety, and longevity. Sodium-ion batteries generate heat during operation, particularly in high-power or rapid charge-discharge cycles, requiring efficient cooling systems tailored to containerized storage setups. Below is a concise overview, reduced by 50% from the previous response and avoiding citations, focusing on radiators for sodium-ion battery applications.

Role of Radiators

Thermal Regulation: Maintain optimal battery temperatures (-20°C to 60°C) to prevent overheating or thermal runaway.
Lifespan Extension: Stable temperatures reduce material degradation, enhancing battery life.
Efficiency Boost: Consistent temperatures improve charge-discharge efficiency.

Key Features

Wide Temperature Range: Supports sodium-ion batteries’ ability to operate from -30°C to 60°C, reducing complex cooling needs.
Safety Focus: Lowers risk of thermal issues, leveraging sodium-ion’s inherent stability.
Cost-Effective: Uses affordable materials (e.g., aluminum) to align with sodium-ion’s low-cost advantage.
Modular Design: Fits containerized systems for easy scaling and maintenance.

Applications

Grid Storage: Large containers for renewable energy integration.
Electric Vehicles: Compact cooling for battery packs.
Industrial Backup: Reliable cooling for data centers or factories.

Challenges

Lower Energy Density: Larger battery volumes require expansive radiator coverage.
Cost Balance: Must remain economical to match sodium-ion’s affordability.
Environmental Durability: Needs resistance to corrosion in harsh climates.

Future Directions

Advanced Materials: Explore composites or graphene for better heat transfer.
Hybrid Systems: Combine air and liquid cooling for efficiency.
Smart Controls: Integrate sensors for adaptive cooling based on battery load.

a cross flow heat exchanger used in a cardiopulmonary

A cross-flow heat exchanger in a cardiopulmonary context, such as during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures, is a critical component used to regulate a patient’s blood temperature. These devices are commonly integrated into heart-lung machines to warm or cool blood as it’s circulated outside the body during open-heart surgeries or other procedures requiring temporary heart and lung support.

How It Works

In a cross-flow heat exchanger, two fluids—typically blood and a heat transfer medium (like water)—flow perpendicular to each other, separated by a solid surface (e.g., metal or polymer plates/tubes) that facilitates heat transfer without mixing the fluids. The design maximizes heat exchange efficiency while maintaining biocompatibility and minimizing blood trauma.

Blood Flow Path: Oxygenated blood from the heart-lung machine flows through one set of channels or tubes.
Water Flow Path: Temperature-controlled water flows through an adjacent set of channels in a perpendicular direction, either warming or cooling the blood depending on the clinical need (e.g., inducing hypothermia or rewarming).
Heat Transfer: The temperature gradient between the blood and water drives heat exchange through the conductive surface. The cross-flow arrangement ensures a high heat transfer rate due to the constant temperature difference across the exchanger.

Key Features

Biocompatibility: Materials (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, or medical-grade polymers) are chosen to prevent clotting, hemolysis, or immune reactions.
Compact Design: Cross-flow exchangers are space-efficient, crucial for integration into CPB circuits.
Efficiency: The perpendicular flow maximizes the temperature gradient, improving heat transfer compared to parallel-flow designs.
Sterility: The system is sealed to prevent contamination, with disposable components often used for single-patient procedures.
Control: Paired with a heater-cooler unit, the exchanger maintains precise blood temperature (e.g., 28–32°C for hypothermia, 36–37°C for normothermia).

Applications in Cardiopulmonary Procedures

Hypothermia Induction: During CPB, the blood is cooled to reduce metabolic demand, protecting organs like the brain and heart during reduced circulation.
Rewarming: After surgery, the blood is gradually warmed to restore normal body temperature without causing thermal stress.
Temperature Regulation: Maintains stable blood temperature in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or other long-term circulatory support systems.

Design Considerations

Surface Area: Larger surface areas improve heat transfer but must balance with minimizing priming volume (the amount of fluid needed to fill the circuit).
Flow Rates: Blood flow must be turbulent enough for efficient heat transfer but not so high as to damage red blood cells.
Pressure Drop: The design minimizes resistance to blood flow to avoid excessive pump pressure.
Infection Control: Stagnant water in heater-cooler units can harbor bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium chimaera), necessitating strict maintenance protocols.

Example

A typical cross-flow heat exchanger in a CPB circuit might consist of a bundle of thin-walled tubes through which blood flows, surrounded by a water jacket where temperature-controlled water circulates in a perpendicular direction. The exchanger is connected to a heater-cooler unit that adjusts water temperature based on real-time feedback from the patient’s core temperature.

Challenges and Risks

Hemolysis: Excessive shear stress from turbulent flow can damage blood cells.
Thrombogenicity: Surface interactions may trigger clot formation, requiring anticoagulation (e.g., heparin).
Air Embolism: Improper priming can introduce air bubbles, a serious risk during bypass.
Infections: Contaminated water in heater-cooler units has been linked to rare but severe infections.

Rotary heat exchanger manufacturers

There are several well-known rotary heat exchanger manufacturers that provide high-efficiency solutions for HVAC, industrial, and energy recovery applications. Below are some leading companies:

1. Global Rotary Heat Exchanger Manufacturers

✅ Heatex (Sweden) – Specializes in air-to-air rotary and plate heat exchangers for HVAC and industrial applications.
✅ Klingenburg GmbH (Germany) – Offers rotary heat exchangers with advanced coatings for high humidity and corrosive environments.
✅ Seibu Giken (Japan) – Known for its desiccant rotors and energy recovery wheels, ideal for pharmaceutical and cleanroom applications.
✅ FläktGroup (Germany) – Supplies energy-efficient rotary heat exchangers for large commercial and industrial buildings.
✅ REC Air Handling (Netherlands) – Provides customizable rotary heat exchangers for HVAC and industrial heat recovery.

2. China-Based Rotary Heat Exchanger Manufacturers

✅ Hoval – Specializes in plate and rotary heat exchangers for HVAC and industrial processes.
✅ Holtop – Manufactures energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems with rotary heat exchangers.
✅ Zibo Qiyu – Offers aluminum-based rotary heat exchangers for air handling systems.
✅ Shanghai Shenglin – Produces rotary wheels for air-to-air heat recovery applications.

3. Key Features to Consider

✔ Material – Aluminum, coated surfaces (for corrosion resistance), or desiccant-coated wheels (for humidity control).
✔ Efficiency – High heat recovery efficiency (up to 85%) for energy savings.
✔ Application – Industrial HVAC, cleanrooms, pharmaceutical, or general ventilation.
✔ Customization – Size, coatings, and integration with existing systems.

Kiln waste heat recovery and reuse system - gas stainless steel cross flow heat exchanger scheme

The kiln waste heat recovery and reuse system aims to fully utilize the high-temperature heat in the kiln exhaust gas, and achieve a win-win situation of energy conservation and environmental protection through gas stainless steel cross flow heat exchangers. The core of this solution lies in the use of a stainless steel cross flow heat exchanger, which efficiently exchanges heat between high-temperature exhaust gas and cold air, generating hot air that can be reused.

Working principle: The exhaust gas and cold air flow in a cross flow manner inside the heat exchanger and transfer heat through the stainless steel plate wall. After releasing heat from exhaust gas, it is discharged. Cold air absorbs the heat and heats up into hot air, which is suitable for scenarios such as assisting combustion, preheating materials, or heating.

Advantages:

Efficient heat transfer: The cross flow design ensures a heat transfer efficiency of 60% -80%.
Strong durability: Stainless steel material is resistant to high temperatures and corrosion, and can adapt to complex exhaust environments.
Flexible application: Hot air can be directly fed back to the kiln or used for other processes, with significant energy savings.
System process: Kiln exhaust gas → Pre treatment (such as dust removal) → Stainless steel heat exchanger → Hot air output → Secondary utilization.

This solution is simple and reliable, with a short investment return cycle, making it an ideal choice for kiln waste heat recovery, helping enterprises reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

ZiBo QiYu manufacturer

ZIBO QIYU AIR CONDITION ENERGY RECOVERY EQUIPMENT CO., LTD. We have kinds of air to air heat exchangers, such as AHU, HRV, heat tube heat exchangers, rotary heat exchangers, steam heating coil, surface air cooler.

All these products can be customized, you just need to tell me your requirements, and we have professional model selection software, we can help you choose the most suitable model.

If you're interested in our products, you can look through our website to get further information.

Website:https://www.huanrexi.com

Application of Cross Flow Heat Exchanger in Indirect Evaporative Cooling System of Data Center

The application of cross flow heat exchangers in Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IDEC) systems in data centers is mainly reflected in efficient heat exchange, reducing energy consumption, and improving data center cooling efficiency. Here are its key roles and advantages:

Basic working principle
Cross flow heat exchanger is a type of heat exchange device whose structure allows two streams of air to cross each other while maintaining physical isolation. In indirect evaporative cooling systems in data centers, it is typically used for heat exchange between cooling air and outdoor ambient air without direct mixing.
The workflow is as follows:
The primary air (data center return air) exchanges heat with the secondary air (external ambient air) through one side of the heat exchanger.
The secondary air evaporates and cools in the humidification section, reducing its own temperature, and then absorbs heat in the heat exchanger to cool the primary air.
After the primary air is cooled down, it is sent back to the data center to cool down the IT equipment.
The secondary air is ultimately discharged outdoors without entering the interior of the data center, thus avoiding the risk of pollution.
Advantages in Data Centers
(1) Efficient and energy-saving, reducing cooling demand
Reduce cooling load: By using cross flow heat exchangers, data centers can utilize external air cooling instead of relying on traditional mechanical refrigeration (such as compressors).
Improve PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness): Reduce the operating time of mechanical cooling equipment, lower energy consumption, and make PUE values closer to the ideal state (below 1.2).
(2) Completely physically isolated to avoid contamination
Cross flow heat exchangers can ensure that outdoor air does not come into direct contact with the air inside the data center, avoiding pollution, dust, or humidity affecting IT equipment. They are suitable for data centers with high air quality requirements.
(3) Suitable for various climatic conditions
In dry or warm climates, indirect evaporative cooling systems are particularly effective and can significantly reduce the cooling costs of data centers.
Even in areas with high humidity, optimizing the design of heat exchangers can improve heat exchange efficiency.
(4) Reduce water resource consumption
Compared to direct evaporative cooling (DEC), indirect evaporative cooling does not require direct spraying of water into the air of the data center, but rather indirect cooling through a heat exchanger, thus reducing water loss.
Applicable scenarios
Cross flow heat exchangers are widely used in the following types of data centers:
Hyperscale Data Center: Requires efficient and energy-saving cooling solutions to reduce operating costs.
Cloud computing data center: requires high PUE values and seeks more sustainable cooling methods.
Edge Data Center: typically located in harsh environments, requiring efficient and low maintenance cooling systems.
Challenge and Optimization Plan
Heat exchanger size and efficiency: Larger cross flow heat exchangers can improve heat exchange efficiency, but they also increase the footprint, so optimization design is needed, such as using aluminum or composite material heat exchangers to improve heat exchange efficiency.
Scaling and maintenance: Due to humidity changes, heat exchangers may experience scaling issues, requiring regular cleaning and the use of corrosion-resistant coatings to extend their lifespan.
Control system optimization: Combined with intelligent control, dynamically adjust the working mode of the heat exchanger based on external environmental temperature, humidity, and data center load conditions to improve system adaptability.
Future Development Trends
New efficient heat exchange materials, such as nano coated heat exchangers, further improve heat exchange efficiency.
Combined with AI intelligent control system, dynamically adjust the heat exchange according to the real-time load of the data center.
Combining liquid cooling technology to further improve heat dissipation efficiency in high-density server rooms.

Cross flow heat exchangers play an important role in the indirect evaporative cooling system of data centers, providing efficient heat transfer, reducing energy consumption, minimizing pollution, and improving equipment reliability. They are currently one of the important technologies in the field of data center cooling, especially suitable for large-scale, high-efficiency data centers.

Commercial Ventilation and Energy Recovery

　　Adequate indoor air quality(IAQ)involves many factors depending on the local situation and climate.Health issues like breathing problems can arise from air containing dust,pollen,or other contaminants.A poor indoor environment can also damage buildings.

　　Commercial(non-residential)air handling units tend to be larger units designed for buildings like offices,hotels,and airports.The challenge is to achieve a comfortable IAQ with as little energy input as possible.This means that pressure drop should be low(less fan power is needed)and thermal/humidity efficiency high(less energy consumed for heating/cooling/humidity control).

　　Depending on the geographical region,the primary purpose of the heat exchanger shifts between heating or cooling(and maybe also dehumidifying)the outdoor air before it enters the building.

　　The air handling unit(AHU)is at the center of a ventilation system.At a minimum,an AHU includes one or several fans in each air channel to move the air through the unit.Filters on either side remove dust,pollen,etc.,and protect the fans.Finally,a heat exchanger transfers the required heat or humidity from the exhaust air to the supply air.

　　Implementing an air-to-air heat exchanger is an excellent way to utilize what is usually considered waste heat.An air-to-air heat exchanger will use the temperature difference between the supply and exhaust air to increase the system’s efficiency.There are two types of air-to-air heat exchangers:rotary and plate heat exchangers.

　　The type and exact configuration depends on the application.Both types are made of aluminum,which has excellent properties such as efficient heat transfer capabilities and an extraordinarily long life span.We offers numerous design variables and options for each product,enabling perfect fit and performance in every AHU.

Indirect Cooling in Data Centers

Modern data centers are remarkably technologically complex, and keeping them running safely and efficiently requires continual close monitoring and management.

Maintaining the correct temperature is among the most important tasks faced by data center managers. Should the temperature and humidity rise to excessive levels inside the data center, condensation can start forming, damaging the machines within. This can cause massive damage and disruption, so it must be avoided at all costs. Fortunately, various technologies are on hand that can help keep data center temperatures at the right level.

There are numerous ways to cool a data center. Indirect air cooling uses external air, but by including an air-to-air heat exchanger, the outside air is kept in a separate loop, providing cooling without entering the server room.

Indirect cooling methods benefit by not contaminating the inside air with outdoor air pollutants and humidity. A heat exchanger keeps both airstreams separated while transferring the heat from the inside to the outside of the data center building. Consequently, the ambient and indoor air never mix.

Dry cooling is usually sufficient if the data center is located in a consistently low-temperature area, meaning no water is involved. However, by spraying water on the ambient air side of the heat exchanger, an evaporative effect is achieved, resulting in a lower indoor air temperature. This method is called indirect evaporative cooling (IEC).

Ideally suited for warm, dry climates, IEC provides excellent cooling potential with low operational- and first-cost. Ambient temperature reductions of 6-8 °C (10-15 °F) are typical in summer conditions. IEC provides up to 28% in energy savings compared to conventional free cooling and 52% to air-cooled Free Cooling alternatives.

Evaporative cooling requires a plate heat exchanger that balances high efficiency with low pressure drop, offers solid corrosion protection, and reliable water tightness. Cross-flow heat exchangers meet all these requirements while providing outstanding cooling capacity.

Our crossflow heat exchangers, especially with evaporative cooling technology, provide an efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling methods.

A rapid method for eliminating white smoke

The principle of using a condenser for dehumidification to eliminate white smoke is mainly based on the physical changes of water vapor in the flue gas. The condenser cools the flue gas with low-temperature water or air, gradually reducing its temperature, and the water vapor inside begins to condense into small water droplets. These small water droplets gather inside the condenser and eventually form liquid water, which is then removed through drainage pipes. Dehumidification through a condenser is an effective technical means to eliminate white smoke. It can not only reduce visual pollution, but also help improve the operational efficiency and energy-saving effect of environmental protection equipment. We can provide you with a suitable dehumidification solution for flue gas, which is both economical and environmentally friendly. Welcome to consult us via email.

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What is the difference between the crossflow and counter flow heat exchangers?