Final answer:
The reason for a heat exchanger in a furnace is to transfer heat without mixing fluids and to reduce harmful emissions, given that fires produce dangerous smoke and chemicals as byproducts of exothermic reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addition to heat energy, fires also produce dangerous smoke and other chemicals. This fact is the reason for a heat exchanger in a furnace. The correct answer to the question is (a) heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is designed to transfer heat between two or more fluids without mixing them and, at the same time, reduce or eliminate the emission of harmful substances. It's essential in environments like a furnace, where controlling the release of byproducts from combustion is crucial for health and environmental reasons.
In an exothermic reaction, such as combustion in a furnace, energy is released as heat and the products, which often include gases like CO₂ and H₂O, can be dangerous if not properly managed. Thus, the role of the heat exchanger is vital in containing and redirecting this energy productively while minimizing the release of harmful emissions.