Dry Cooler for Process Air Heating in Chemical Industries

Dry Cooler for Process Air Heating in Chemical Industries

Dry coolers are air-cooled heat exchange systems designed to transfer thermal energy between a process fluid (e.g., thermal oil, glycol, or process water) and ambient air—without relying on water evaporation (unlike evaporative coolers). In chemical industries, their role in process air heating is critical for maintaining precise temperature conditions required for reactions, separation, drying, or catalyst regeneration.

Chemical processes demand highly controlled process air temperatures (ranging from 50°C to 300°C+, depending on the application) to ensure:

Reaction efficiency (e.g., preheating air for oxidation reactions).

Product quality (e.g., preventing moisture buildup in solvent recovery).

Equipment protection (e.g., avoiding condensation in catalyst beds).

Energy efficiency (recovering waste heat to reduce fuel consumption for heating).

Dry coolers fulfill this role by:

Capturing heat from a high-temperature source (e.g., process waste heat, boiler steam, or a dedicated heater).

Transferring heat to a circulating fluid (heat transfer medium) within the dry cooler’s tube bundle.

Heating process air by forcing ambient air over the finned tubes (via fans), where the air absorbs heat from the fluid—then directing the heated air to the process.