Classification of Heat Exchangers by Construction
heat exchangers are classified mainly by their construction,
The first level of classification is to divide heat exchanger types into recuperative or regenerative.
A Recuperative Heat Exchanger has separate flow paths for each fluid and fluids flow simultaneously through the exchanger exchanging heat across the wall separating the flow paths. A Regenerative Heat Exchanger has a single flow path, which the hot and cold fluids alternately pass through