---
title: "Evaporator / Process Heat Exchanger"
industry: "Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing"
verification_protocol:
  urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:EVAPORATOR_PROCESS_HEAT_EXCHANGER"
  data_integrity_hash: "da7bae2c9600288388976a8196617268"
  source_authority: "https://cnfx.com"
  strict_mode: true
source_identity:
  provider: "CNFX Industrial Knowledge Graph"
  index_version: "2026.Q1-Universal"
  authority_id: "URN:CNFX:ME:EVAPORATOR_PROCESS_HEAT_EXCHANGER"
  data_source_uri: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/evaporator-process-heat-exchanger.md"
  official_resource_url: "https://cnfx.com/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/evaporator-process-heat-exchanger"
  is_verified_logic: true
attributes:
  spec:
    status: "config-dependent"
    typical_range: "0.3-4.0 bar (refrigerant side), -40°C to 120°C (process fluid temperature)"
    unit: "mm"
engineering_limits:
  max_safe_operating_point:
    value: 5.2
    unit: "bar"
    consequence: "Thermal stress-induced fatigue cracking at tube-to-header joints due to ΔT &gt; 75°C thermal cycling; refrigerant-side pressure exceeding yield strength of 110 MPa copper-nickel alloy"
fmea_matrix_quantitative:
  - node_1:
      trigger: "Calcium carbonate scaling exceeding 2.5 mm thickness on tube surfaces"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Installation of automatic tube brushing system with 6-hour cleaning cycles"
  - node_2:
      trigger: "Refrigerant charge loss below 85% of design mass (e.g., 12.5 kg for R134a system)"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Dual-pressure transducer monitoring with 0.1 bar resolution and automatic shutdown at 0.8 bar"
bom_nodes:
  fins:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:FINS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  distribution-header:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:DISTRIBUTION_HEADER"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  tube-bundle:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:TUBE_BUNDLE"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
manufacturing_compliance:
url: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/evaporator-process-heat-exchanger.md"
on_chain_sovereignty:
  contract_standard: "ERC-721-Industrial"
  metadata_hash: "a669e5e467b712ac674831015e212b336bcbf6cc688f8314574f55c38a797d37"
  royalty_logic: "IPFS-CID-REQUIRED"
  mint_status: "logic-verified-ready"
version: "3.3.4-EXTREME-SOVEREIGN-WEB3"
---

# Industrial Specification: Evaporator / Process Heat Exchanger

## 1. Technical Definition
A heat exchanger component within a chiller unit that facilitates the evaporation of refrigerant to absorb heat from the process fluid or air.

## 2. Engineering Reasoning & Causal Matrix
> **Operational Intelligence**: Designed for **0.3-4.0 bar (refrigerant side), -40°C to 120°C (process fluid temperature)**. Failure boundary: **Refrigerant pressure exceeding 5.2 bar causes tube rupture; process fluid temperature below -45°C initiates brittle fracture in copper tubes**, Mechanism: **Thermal stress-induced fatigue cracking at tube-to-header joints due to ΔT &gt; 75°C thermal cycling; refrigerant-side pressure exceeding yield strength of 110 MPa copper-nickel alloy**.

### 2.1 Analytical Physics Model
Governed by the **LMTD Logarithmic Mean Temperature Difference**:

> **Primary Equation**: $Q = U \cdot A \cdot \Delta T_{lm}$  
> **Engineering Impact**: Sizing validation for pasteurization and cooling tunnels.

| Symbol | Variable Definition | Localized Reference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| U | Heat Transfer Coeff | Engineering Constant |
| A | Area | Engineering Constant |
| \Delta T_{lm} | LMTD | Engineering Constant |

### 2.2 FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
| Event Trigger | Severity | Failure Mode | Mitigation Strategy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Calcium carbonate scaling exceeding 2.5 mm thickness on tube surfaces | 8 | Heat transfer coefficient reduction from 850 W/m²·K to below 150 W/m²·K | Installation of automatic tube brushing system with 6-hour cleaning cycles |
| Refrigerant charge loss below 85% of design mass (e.g., 12.5 kg for R134a system) | 8 | Evaporator superheat exceeding 15°C causing compressor slugging | Dual-pressure transducer monitoring with 0.1 bar resolution and automatic shutdown at 0.8 bar |

## 3. Key Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| spec | Config-dependent | mm | Verified |

## 4. System BOM & Knowledge Routing
### Core Components (Recursive Links)
- [Distribution Header](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/distribution-header.md) `(Standalone System)`
- [Tube Bundle](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/tube-bundle.md) `(Standalone System)`

### Industrial DNA Context (De-duplicated)
**Complementary Dependencies**: **Refrigerant Compressor**, **Condenser Unit**, **Expansion Valve**  
**Downstream Applications**: Industrial Chiller Systems, HVAC Systems, Process Cooling Equipment  

## 5. Engineering Risks & FAQ
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 

### Q: What materials are best for evaporator heat exchangers in machinery manufacturing?
**A**: Copper offers excellent thermal conductivity for high-efficiency applications, stainless steel provides superior corrosion resistance for harsh environments, and aluminum provides a lightweight, cost-effective option for standard industrial use.

### Q: How does the tube bundle design affect evaporator performance?
**A**: The tube bundle configuration directly impacts heat transfer efficiency, pressure drop, and refrigerant distribution. Optimized designs maximize surface area contact between refrigerant and process fluid while maintaining structural integrity under operational pressures.

### Q: What maintenance is required for industrial evaporator heat exchangers?
**A**: Regular maintenance includes cleaning fins to prevent fouling, inspecting distribution headers for even refrigerant flow, checking for corrosion or leaks, and monitoring pressure differentials to ensure optimal heat transfer efficiency throughout the equipment lifecycle.

## 6. Manufacturing Compliance

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### 🛠️ Engineering Resource Access
🔗 **[Full Specification: Evaporator / Process Heat Exchanger](https://cnfx.com/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/evaporator-process-heat-exchanger)**

### 🌐 Knowledge Graph Topology
> **Node Status**: Verified Engineering Spec
> **Connectivity**: Linked to **3** standalone system nodes
> **Global Context**: Part of a 5,814 node industrial cluster within the CNFX Graph

> **Reference ID**: EVAPORATOR_PROCESS_HEAT_EXCHANGER | **Authority**: CNFX-2026-ST-001 | **Fingerprint**: c10789c4
