What is the primary role of a heat exchanger in engineering?

The primary role of a heat exchanger in engineering is to transfer heat between two or more fluids. This function is crucial in various industrial applications where heat needs to be managed efficiently, such as in heating, cooling, and energy recovery processes. By facilitating the heat exchange between fluids without allowing them to mix, heat exchangers enable the transfer of thermal energy from a hotter fluid to a cooler one, thereby optimizing processes, enhancing energy efficiency, and maintaining the required temperature for different systems.

The design of heat exchangers can vary widely depending on the specific application, but their essential purpose remains focused on the effective transfer of heat to dictate the operation of heating systems, refrigeration cycles, and many types of chemical processes.