Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A heat exchanger is a device designed to transfer thermal energy between two or more fluids at different temperatures.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Heat exchangers are highly versatile unit operations in food processing.
They can be used to add heat to a product (e.g., during pasteurization, sterilization, or evaporation) using a heating medium like steam or hot water.
They can also be used to remove heat (cool) from a product (e.g., during chilling, freezing, or cooling post-pasteurization) using a cooling medium like chilled water, glycol, or refrigerant.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, heat exchangers are used to heat or cool the product.