A hydraulic oil cooler is a device that prevents the oil used in hydraulic systems from overheating. Overheated oil can damage seals, reduce viscosity and decrease the lifespan of system components.
A hydraulic oil cooler transfers thermal energy from the hot hydraulic fluid to a cooling medium such as water or air. Coolers are available in several different types.
Radiator
The radiator is a vital component of the cooling system in your vehicle. Without it, your car’s engine would overheat. The radiator’s job is to vent the heat from the engine and transfer it to passing air.
When coolant becomes hot, it expands. This raises the pressure within the radiator’s tank, and the pressure cap is set to release when it reaches a specific pressure point. This prevents damage to hoses and other parts in the cooling system.
Once the pressure is released, coolant flows through the radiator’s inlet and outlet tanks (located either on top or along one side) into a core. The core is a large metal block with small fins designed to disperse the coolant’s heat into passing air.
Airflow to the radiator is assisted by a fan in the front of your vehicle. Bent or damaged fins can block airflow and reduce the radiator’s effectiveness. Learn how to repair a variety of vehicle systems, including the cooling system, in UTI’s Automotive Technology program.
Shell & Tube
Shell and tube heat exchangers use one fluid that flows inside the tubes (the tube side) while another fluid flows outside the tubes and into the shell (the shell side). Heat energy is transferred from the hot to the cold fluids.
The shell side of the heat exchanger has baffles that create turbulence to boost the fluid velocity and increase the heat transfer coefficient. The center-to-center distance between the baffles is known as the “baffle pitch” and can be varied to adjust the cross flow velocity.
The welded plate bloc technology used in Compabloc has many benefits including a compact design and low capital costs. This makes it ideal for crude oil refinery applications and other industries that require higher levels of operational efficiency. Upset process conditions also cause less damage to the shell & tube design than other heat exchangers. This reduces maintenance requirements, downtime and production disruptions. Moreover, it provides greater reliability and longer service life than other heat exchangers.
Plate & Frame
Plate and frame heat exchangers, also known as flat plates, consist of corrugated metal plates stacked together to create channels for fluids to flow. Each plate is sealed with gaskets, which separate the fluids and prevent them from mixing. The turbulence created by the fluids flowing over each plate generates heat transfer. These heat exchangers are available in a wide range of sizes and plate patterns to match your exact needs.
In a typical gasketed plate and frame heat exchanger, the liquids flow counter-currently, with the cold fluid entering through one of the connections in the frames and the hot fluid flowing down the other side of the plates. The liquids come into contact with each other, transferring the heat through conduction and condensation.
The demand for plate and frame heat exchangers has been boosted by the rapid industrialization in developing economies of Asia Pacific including China and India. The petrochemical, chemical, HVAC, and food & beverage industries rely on this equipment to transfer heat between liquids or gases at varying temperatures.
Floating Tube Stack
This is used in power packs, engines and other equipment where there is a need for hydraulic oil to be cooled. This is a shell & tube heat exchanger with a floating head cover. These are the simplest to remove for inspection/cleaning. They allow for differential expansion between the jacket & tube side streams. They are recommended for low pressures & temperatures and non-hazardous liquids. They are more expensive than other floating header designs.
Fixed Tubesheet design consists of stationary tubesheets welded to the shell at each end. These tube sheets contain baffles that direct the flow around the tubes to generate required heat transfer. This design allows for a larger tube count, but does not provide for differential thermal expansion. It also requires a large space between pairs of tubes to prevent cross-contamination between the two fluids. This is not a good option for 3-A sanitary applications.hydraulic oil coolers
