Archive for September, 2010
What is a Heat Exchanger?
Simply put, a heat exchanger is a device that facilitates the transfer of heat from one medium to another in an efficient way. Heat exchangers can be used to move heat between either devices that are touching or those that aren’t even in the same room. This technology is utilized in everything from heating and refrigeration to petroleum refinement and sewage treatment. If you’re having trouble grasping the concept, the radiator in your car is a good example of a heat exchanger.
There are several different types of heat exchangers, with shell and tube being one of the most common. Comprised of a series of tubes, these heat exchangers contain multiple fluids which are used to transfer heat and regulate temperatures. Another one of the more common designs is the plate heat exchanger. These units are made of several plates that are connected together with a small space left in-between each one. Thanks to advancements in technology, these more simplistic heat exchangers are now viable options for HVAC, refrigeration and other common uses.
Who is John Galt?
I’ve seen this bumper sticker more and more in recent months, and it’s a rare occasion when I’m actually with someone who understands the reference. This quote serves as the tagline for Ayn Rand’s iconic novel Atlas Shrugged, which espoused the merits of rational self-interest and influenced some of the most influential free market thinkers of the last several decades. Of course, in order to explain the quote I’ll have to give away some key plot points. So if you haven’t read it yet—or want to see the new movie with a clean palate—stop reading.
The identity of John Galt isn’t revealed until well into the book, but we learn that he has designed an electric motor that uses the Earth’s rotational energy to generate its power. The motor is touted as an indefinite solution to the energy crisis and a crowning achievement of engineering and human ingenuity—along with Rearden Steel. The question “who is John Galt?” can be viewed almost as a calling, beckoning the next world-altering inventor and innovator.