Heat exchangers are widely used nowadays across the globe. They have applications both in the industry and around the home. Every appliance in your house which uses energy may work with a heat exchanger.
Depending on the model of the heat exchanger and its purpose, there are different categories of materials that are used in order to manufacture the devices. Thus, materials vary highly for brazed plate heat exchangers, plate and frame heat exchangers, shell and tube heat exchangers and others.
For the brazed plate heat exchangers, the small plates are made from 304, 316 and 316L stainless steel. This prevents corrosion, a phenomenon that occurs when water and metal come in contact. The plates are copper or nickel brazed, thus ensuring a higher lifespan of the device.
As far as shell and tube heat exchangers are concerned, manufacturers must keep in mind the fact that they are used primarily in industrial plants, such as oil refineries or chemical plants. The most popular materials used are the 304 and 316 stainless steel, because those alloys have more nickel and chromium, thus making the metal more resistant to oxidization.
For the plate and frame heat exchanger and air to water heat exchanger, stainless steel and copper pipes are the materials of choice during manufacturing. The explanation is the desire of producers to offer the best quality at the best price. This does not mean the device is cheap, it means that one will not need to replace it frequently.
Copper, stainless steel, nickel and chromium alloys, those are the materials used in the production process of heat exchangers. Thus, those devices have a warranty between 5 and as much as 20 years. The devices are reliable and work efficiently for a long time.