What type of heat exchanger flow path has two fluids flow perpendicular to each other?

• A. Crossflow
• B. Parallel Flow
• C. Counterflow
• D. Direct Contact

Answer: (A)

In this scenario the flow arrangement is crossflow. Crossflow means the two fluids move at right angles to each other, typically with one fluid flowing across the other’s path as in many shell-and-tube or finned heat exchangers. Parallel flow has both streams moving in the same direction along the length, and counterflow has them moving in opposite directions along the same axis, neither of which is perpendicular. Direct contact refers to heat exchange with the fluids mixing directly, rather than exchanging heat through a barrier, which is a different setup.