Heat is a form of energy that can flow into or out of a system via various mechanisms. There are three main mechanisms of heat flow: conduction through direct contact of materials, convection through the mixing and movement of heated portions of a fluid, and radiation through electromagnetic waves. Common applications of heat transfer include evaporation, distillation, drying, crystallization, and sterilization. Heat transfer equipment like tubular heaters, floating head heaters, and heat exchangers facilitate heat exchange between fluids or between fluids and their environments.