A radiator is a heat exchanger used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in cars, buildings, and electronics. A radiator is always a source of heat to its environment, although this may be for either the purpose of heating an environment, or for cooling the fluid or coolant supplied to it, as for automotive engine cooling and HVAC dry cooling towers. Despite the name, most radiators transfer the bulk of their heat via convection instead of thermal radiation.[citation needed]
Whether an air cooler or an air conditioner is "better" depends on individual needs and the climate. Air conditioners are generally more effective at cooling, especially in humid environments, but air coolers are more energy-efficient and cost-effective in dry climates.
Put simply, a heat exchanger is a device which transfers heat from one medium to another, a hydraulic oil cooler, for example, will remove heat from hot oil by using cold water or air. Alternatively, a swimming pool heat exchanger uses hot water from a boiler or solar heated water circuit to heat the pool water. Heat is transferred by conduction through the exchanger materials which separate the mediums being used. A shell and tube heat exchanger passes fluids through and over tubes, where-as an air cooled heat exchanger passes cool air through a core of fins to cool a liquid.
An engine cooler (radiator) primarily cools the engine's coolant (water/antifreeze mixture), while an oil cooler specifically cools the engine oil. Both are crucial for maintaining optimal engine temperature, but they target different fluids within the engine system.
An oil cooler is a separate, smaller radiator to an engine's main radiator, which maintains an oil supply at a consistent, optimal temperature. Its purpose is to cool the oil passing through the coils, thus improving the engine and the transmission's lifetime. They are situated in front of an engine's cooling system.
There are two types of oil coolers, cooled by air and cooled by liquid. > Cooled by air: They are heat exchangers where oil flows. They use the same working principle that a radiator uses; hot oil flows through some tubes with fins that join them. Those fins lower the fluid temperature.
