The most widely used type in petrochemicals. Consists of a large shell and a bundle of tubes; one fluid flows inside the tubes and another flows around them (inside the shell).

• Advantages: Resistant to high pressure and temperature, easily maintainable

• Application: Condenser, reboiler, inter-stage coolers

Consists of thin metal plates between which fluids flow. The heat transfer surface area is very high due to the large number of thin plates.

• Advantages: High efficiency, compact size

• Disadvantages: Limited to high pressure and temperature

• Application: Low-pressure cooling systems, food and pharmaceutical industries

In this type, air is used instead of water to cool the fluid. Fans force air over finned tubes.

• Advantages: Suitable for water-scarce regions

• Application: Refineries and petrochemicals in arid areas (e.g. Abadan)

The simplest type; consists of one pipe inside another. Hot fluid flows in one pipe and cold fluid in the other.

• Advantages: Simple design, suitable for low flow rates

• Application: Auxiliary services or low-capacity applications

Consists of two spiral channels in which fluids flow.

• Advantages: Resistant to fouling, compact design

• Application: Fluids with suspended particles or sludge

Used to convert vapor to liquid. Mostly of shell & tube or air-cooled type.

• Application: Distillation and separation units

Provides heat at the bottom of distillation columns to vaporize liquid.
Essentially a specialized shell & tube heat exchanger.

• Application: All petroleum and chemical distillation units

• Cooler: Reduces temperature of process fluids (e.g. gas before compressor)
• Heater: Increases fluid temperature to reach reaction conditions
  Can be of shell & tube or air-cooled type