For efficient heat transfer from one medium to another, the use of heat exchangers is recommended. There are loads of advantages that come with the use of this equipment and therefore limitations too are at handy. This equipment is widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, and natural gas processing and sewage treatment. The transferred heat usually passes through a type of radiator known as oil cooler.
Oil cooling is the use of oil as a coolant, typically to remove excess heat from an internal combustion engine .The hot engine transfers heat to the oil which then usually passes through a heat exchanger. There are several advantages and limitations for using oil coolers in Heat Exchangers: Oil has a higher boiling point than that of water, so it can be used to cool items at a temperature that water cannot cool. In heat exchangers high temperatures is expected considering the vast purposes of the fluids being heated in them. In order to avoid the temperatures going out of hand, the oil cooler is used. This is because oil can be used to cool items at a temperature of 100 degree Celsius .However pressurized water cooling may also exceed 100 degree Celsius.
Oil is an electric insulator hence it can be used inside of, or in direct contact with electrical components. Oil being dielectric influences its use in heat exchangers unlike water. As compared to water Oil can get to contact directly with electric components. The oil is usually put in pipes in the radiators so as to achieve the oil cooler intended task.
Besides oil being a coolant agent in the oil coolers, it also serves as a lubricant, so no extra coolant tanks, pumps nor radiators are required .In heat exchangers there are lots of moving parts that need to be frequently lubricated. The oil that serves as a coolant also doubles up as a lubricant hence reducing the wear and tear effect of these moving parts .Without lubrication friction will eat up the parts hence leading to breakage or failure of the heat exchanger.
Cooling water can be corrosive to the engine and must contain a rust anticatalyst, whereas oil naturally helps prevent corrosion .Oil when applied on heat exchangers or any other metallic surface, it reduces the rusting effect because it is immiscible with water and oxygen cannot penetrate it. In order for rusting to take place, Oxygen should be present and water too. Oil coolers tank that hold oil to cool the fluid is prevented from rusting.
Everything that has a positive side has a negative one also, likewise the use of oil coolers carry with it some limitations. Some of the limitations include;
In heat exchangers the coolant oil may be limited to cooling objects under approximately 200 degree Celsius to 300 degree Celsius, Otherwise the oil may degrade and leave ashy deposits. When this ashy deposits accumulate in the oil cooler they get to contaminate the oil hence may lead to breakage or failure of the appliance.
Also unlike water, oil may be flammable. This exposes your heat exchangers and also yourself to risk of fire. The oil cooler may over heat leading to a fire.
