Engine Cooling

Oil & Jacket Water Coolers

The two most prevalent kinds of heat exchangers used for oil cooling are the "shell and tube" and "air-cooled" variants. Both types can dissipate the same quantity of heat, depending on their size. The key difference lies in their methods of heat removal from the process fluid (oil).

In shell and tube devices, hot oil that flows through the shell side is typically cooled by cold water running through the tubes. On the other hand, air-cooled heat exchangers either rely on the natural flow of air or use a motor-powered fan to propel cool air over a set of fins or coils, thereby cooling the circulating hot oil inside.

One significant distinction between these two technologies is the power requirement in many air-cooled models. Passive radiator-style heat exchangers don't need power. However, any model equipped with a fan needs either electrical or hydraulic power to operate.

An additional advantage of shell and tube variants is their compact size. This traditional design can often be much smaller compared to an air-cooled unit capable of providing equivalent cooling.