At its core, a heat exchanger works on the principle of thermal conduction, where heat is transferred between two fluids at different temperatures. The design of heat exchangers ensures that the two fluids are in close proximity but do not mix. This separation allows for efficient heat transfer while maintaining the integrity of each fluid. Heat exchangers can be classified into several types based on their design and application. The most common types include shell and tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, air-cooled heat exchangers, and double-pipe heat exchangers.
