Heat Exchanger vs Radiator: What Is the Difference?
A radiator is one specific type of heat exchanger. Here is how the terms differ and when each is used in industrial and HVAC systems.
Both transfer heat
A radiator is actually a type of heat exchanger — every radiator is a heat exchanger, but not every heat exchanger is a radiator. The term 'heat exchanger' covers any device that moves heat between two fluids, while 'radiator' usually means a liquid-to-air device that rejects heat to the surrounding air.
Liquid-to-liquid vs liquid-to-air
Industrial heat exchangers (plate, shell-and-tube) most often transfer heat between two liquids, or a liquid and steam. Radiators and air coolers transfer heat from a liquid to air using finned surfaces and a fan or natural convection. The choice depends on what you are rejecting heat to.
Efficiency and size
Liquid-to-liquid plate heat exchangers are far more compact and efficient than air-cooled radiators because liquids carry far more heat per unit volume than air. Where water or another coolant is available, a plate or shell-and-tube unit is usually smaller and cheaper to operate than an equivalent air-cooled radiator.
Which one do you need?
If you have two liquid streams to exchange heat, choose a plate or shell-and-tube heat exchanger. If you must reject heat to ambient air, choose a finned-tube radiator or air-cooled heat exchanger. Jiangxing supplies both — send your duty to Evan, jxmike@shheatex.com, or WhatsApp +86 173 1725 8304.
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