Are Heat Exchangers Really an Improvement to Air Conditioning?

Given the rapid advancement and the wide-scale implementation of modern heat exchangers in most industries, it seems obvious that the innovative thermal management solutions provide several advantages over traditional air conditioning. For the companies that utilize them, heat exchangers have helped them realize significant savings in overhead and energy usage, as well as much more streamlined and efficient operations. However, not every company knows or enjoys the advantages that heat exchangers provide, relying still on traditional electrical cooling solutions and carrying the burdens that they come with.

Comparing thermal management methods

Conventional cooling solutions, like air conditioners, rely on thermal management methods that employ complicated processes, like chilling air and then circulating it through an electrical enclosure. Air conditioning utilizes complex machinery, chemical agents (such as Freon), and more to accomplish this process, all of which constitute a significant investment on the part of the company that relies on it. By contrast, heat exchangers forego the idea of overcoming electrical waste heat, using methods to continuously absorb and transfer it, instead. They accomplish this with the help of an eco-friendly cooling fluid (such as water) that flows through custom-designed heat pipes or cold plates, which requires much simpler equipment and substantially less energy.

The long-term investments

When a company’s entire operation relies on air conditioning-based thermal management, any hiccup with that thermal management can have resounding consequences. Not only do companies have to shoulder the costs of operating the cumbersome units, but serious impacts like unscheduled downtime, loss of productivity, and sometimes, complete shutdowns are often par for the course. This means the costs extend far beyond energy and maintenance, but also include any reduced efficiencies and diminished productivity across the company’s entire operation. When companies first began implementing heat exchangers, the significantly less cumbersome investments in energy, maintenance, and efficiency were among the most obvious benefits of streamlined thermal management.

Additional benefits of modern heat exchangers

Over time, the reduced need for energy and the much less frequent need for maintenance or repairs can have tangible, compounding benefits for most types of companies. For example, freeing up capital by spending less on energy means companies can more easily invest in newer, more powerful technologies elsewhere. Employees who don’t have to stop their workflow due to electrical cooling concerns can remain more productive and satisfied in their positions. As more companies across more industries opt for heat exchangers for their electrical cooling needs, those benefits will continue to help shape the standards of operation in those industries.

For more information about the differences between heat and air conditioning, call Noren Thermal Solutions in Taylor, TX, at 866-936-6736.