Headers/Manifolds

Headers and manifolds are critical components within heat exchangers and cooling surfaces that serve as distribution and collection points for working fluids. They connect multiple parallel tubes or channels, ensuring uniform flow distribution to maximize heat transfer efficiency. Headers typically refer to larger collection chambers at the ends of tube bundles, while manifolds are branching pipe systems that distribute fluid to various sections. In heat exchanger applications, they play a vital role in managing pressure drops, preventing flow maldistribution, and facilitating maintenance access to individual tubes.

Headers and manifolds operate by receiving fluid from a single inlet and distributing it evenly to multiple parallel flow paths (tubes or channels) within the heat exchanger. They utilize internal baffles, flow distribution plates, or carefully designed internal geometries to ensure balanced flow to all tubes. After heat transfer occurs in the tubes, the fluid is collected in the outlet header/manifold and directed to the system outlet. The design minimizes pressure losses while maintaining thermal performance across all parallel paths.