Types of Lube Oil Coolers
There are two main designs, differentiated by their cooling method:
- Shell and Tube Cooler:
- Description: A bundle of tubes enclosed inside a large shell (a cylindrical vessel). Oil flows through the tubes, and coolant flows around the tubes inside the shell.
- Common Use: Common in large industrial applications like power plants, marine engines, and heavy machinery.
- Plate Cooler:
- Description: Made up of multiple thin plates stacked together. Channels between the plates alternate between hot oil and cool coolant. This design has a very high surface area for efficient heat transfer in a compact size.
- Common Use: Extremely common in modern automotive engines, transmissions, and hydraulic systems.
Additionally, they can be categorized by what removes the heat:
- Liquid-Cooled Oil Coolers: Use engine coolant (most common in passenger vehicles).
- Air-Cooled Oil Coolers: Use airflow, often with fins to increase surface area (common in motorcycles, performance cars, and aircraft).