What role do thermal fluids play in heat exchangers?

Thermal fluids are essential in heat exchangers as they facilitate the transfer of heat from one medium to another, which is the primary function of these systems. In heat exchangers, thermal fluids, which may be liquids or gases, absorb heat from a hot source (such as exhaust gases or heated fluids) and transfer that heat to a cooler medium (such as water or air) without the two fluids mixing. The design and operation of heat exchangers aim to maximize this heat transfer efficiency while minimizing heat losses, ensuring that the intended thermal energy is effectively transferred and utilized.

While other functions listed, such as altering the state of solid materials, increasing the temperature of a gas, or facilitating combustion processes, may involve thermal management, they do not specifically describe the core role of thermal fluids in heat exchange applications. Instead, those processes may be related to different engineering functions outside the primary purpose of a heat exchanger. Hence, the emphasis on minimizing losses and effectively transferring heat highlights the critical operational principle of heat exchangers.