An Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger (ACHE), also known as a fin-fan cooler, is a type of heat exchanger that uses air as the cooling medium to remove heat from a process fluid (liquid or gas). It is commonly used in industries where water is scarce or expensive, or where environmental regulations restrict water usage.
How Does an Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Work?
- Hot Process Fluid flows through tubes (usually finned to increase surface area).
- Air is Forced or Induced over the tubes by fans (powered by electric motors).
- Heat Transfer occurs as the air absorbs heat from the fluid, cooling it down.
Cooled Fluid exits the exchanger, while the heated air is discharged to the atmosphere.