Used heat exchangers for sale: efficient thermal transfer systems for heating, cooling and energy recovery

Used heat exchangers are essential in virtually every industrial setting where fluids need to be heated or cooled efficiently. These systems transfer thermal energy between liquids, gases, or steam without mixing the media—making them critical in process optimization, energy recovery and environmental control. With over 47 years of experience, IPP supplies used, secondhand and surplus heat exchangers from 20 global plant sites and maintains a massive inventory of 15,000+ systems ready for fast shipment.

IPP offers a wide variety of heat exchanger types including shell and tube, plate, air-cooled, spiral, and double-pipe designs from trusted brands like Alfa Laval, API Schmidt-Bretten, Tranter, Graham and ITT Standard.

Used Stainless Steel Heat Exchangers

Heat exchangers are unfired heat transfer equipment used in process plants. Heat exchangers are used for the transfer of heat or cold between two fluids for the purpose of heating the process, cooling the process, or condensing vapors during the process. Heat exchangers are measured in Square Feet. There are several different types of heat exchangers. These include:

• Shell and Tube - Also called a condenser and calandria depending on the service, this type of heat exchanger has external cylinder called a shell with internal tubes that run the length of the shell. There are tube sheets on each end of the tubes sealing the shell around the tubes. There are covers on each end called heads and these can come in several configurations. The shell side has a pressure and temperature rating and the tube side has a pressure and temperature rating. They can be vertical or horizontal. Basic principle of operation is that one fluid flows through the tube and the other fluid flows around the tubes. The fluid inside the tubes can flow in a single pass or multiple passes using baffles in the heads.
• Graphite Exchangers - Graphite block exchangers are typically made from a solid block of graphite with parallel holes drilled at right angles. The blocks can be cylindrical or cube shaped. The blocks are typically stacked with gaskets in-between to product more square foot surface area. The blocks are inserted in carbon steel housing. Graphite shell and tube exchangers have graphite tubes and heads with Carbon Steel shells.
• Plate Heat Exchangers - Plate exchangers consist of a series of alloy plates held together by a frame. The frame can be opened to add or repair the plates. One liquid flows through alternate plates and the other liquid flow the opposite direction through the opposite plates.
• Spiral Heat Exchangers - Spiral exchanger are made from a pair of plates rolled to provide two relatively long rectangular passages for fluid in counter current flow. The spiral design is compact.
• Fin Fan / Air Fin Exchangers - This type of exchanger has radial fins on the outside of the tubes to extend the heat transfer surface area. Tubes are mounted in horizontal banks, and multiple fans blow air across the outside of the tubes for cooling the process fluid inside the tubes.
• Compoblock - This new type of heat exchanger is like a plate exchanger except the plates are welded together instead of gasketed, and the plates are mounted in a cube shaped shell like a graphite block exchanger. This type offers compact design, ability to use high alloys, and closed environment to prevent leaks.

Primary uses across industries

• In chemical manufacturing, for heating reactants, condensing vapors, and maintaining process temperatures
• In pharmaceutical and food processing, for sterilization, pasteurization and CIP systems
• In oil, gas and petrochemical refining, for crude heating, recovery loops and waste heat utilization
• In HVAC and utilities, for steam condensers, chillers, and boiler feedwater preheating

Types of materials processed

• Water, brine, glycol, oil and other process liquids
• Steam, air, refrigerants and inert gases
• Corrosive or high-viscosity fluids needing specialty alloys

Common materials of construction

Heat exchangers must withstand temperature, pressure and chemical exposure:

• Stainless steel for sanitary and corrosion-resistant processes
• Carbon steel for general utility applications
• Titanium, Hastelloy and Inconel for high-temperature or highly corrosive conditions

Key features of industrial heat exchangers

• Wide range of pressure and temperature ratings
• Removable bundle or plate options for easy cleaning
• ASME and TEMA-rated designs for compliance and reliability
• Customizable flow arrangements: counter-current, co-current or multi-pass
• Compact designs available for skid systems or space-restricted environments

Learn more about industrial heat exchanger design and selection from Chemical Processing.

Find your heat exchanger at IPP

Search the IPP inventory or contact IPP’s thermal systems experts to find the right used, surplus or secondhand heat exchanger for your facility. From simple replacements to full energy recovery systems, IPP helps you optimize performance while cutting lead times and costs.