Energy Efficient Range of Plate Heat Exchanger

 

A plate heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger that uses metal plates to transfer heat between two fluids. This has major advantage over a conventional heat exchanger in that the fluids are exposed to a much larger surface area because the fluids are spread out over the plates. This facilitates the transfer of heat, and greatly increases the speed of the temperature change. Plate heat exchangers are now common and very small brazed versions are used in the hot-water sections of millions of combination boilers. The high heat transfer efficiency for such a small physical size has increased the domestic hot water flowrate of combination boilers. The small plate heat exchanger has made a great impact in domestic heating and hot-water. Larger commercial versions use gaskets between the plates, whereas smaller versions tend to be brazed. S Epichlorohydrin (67843-74-7) manufacturer India being in exclusive collaboration with many heat transfer technology provider also offers a wide range of plate sizes designed for a range of processes right from pharma, chemical, to power, marine, shipping, etc. sectors.

The construction of a PHE is the stack of embossed plates with suitable portholes fitted parallel to each other, resulting in equal fluid distribution on each side. Each plate is separated from the next with a gasket which separates the two and seals the flow gap from the atmosphere. The heat transfer plates separate two fluids and avoid mixing of process and utility fluids.

There are a variety of corrugation patterns designed on heat transfer plates, which can be selected for specific applications to achieve higher heat transfer rate and optimum pressure drops. These plates allow different heat transfer area with acute and obtuse angled corrugation. Heat transfer plates are mostly produced in AISI 316 L as this material is generally more corrosion resistant than AISI 304. Titanium is used depending upon the nature and corrosive properties of process / utility fluid and hastelloy is used for highly resistant acids and chlorides.

The heat transfer plates comes with double gaskets in the entry and exit area with leakage groove between two media, it prevents the media from mixing if the gasket leaks. The installation of gaskets is depending upon the design and type of plate heat exchanger, it comes with two different types, i.e., ‘adhesive’ and ‘clip-on’ gasket.

Features

·         Very high heat transfer rates due to thermodynamically optimised design.

·         Specially embossed entry fields for optimum distribution of media.

·         Gaskets fastened by´Clip-system´ for easy maintenance.

·         Gaskets have a special ribbed surface, enabling more exact centering and stabilization of the entire plate pack.

·         Double gasket with leakage groove between two media preventing mixing of the media.

·         Special plate profile at the edges, reinforcing the plate pack and ensuring high pressure resistance of the gasket during operation.

·         Multi sections units consisting two or more plate packs separated by intermediate plate or C-plates in cladded PHE.

Advantages

·         Low investment, operation and maintenance costs.

·         Highly efficient heat transfer.

·         Use of smallest temperature difference

·         Up to 75 per cent less space required.

·         Self-cleaning effect due to highly turbulent flow behaviour.

·         Future additional capacity is possible by fitting extra heat transfer plates.

·         Double gasket with leak groove gives high safety with regards to media mixing.

·         Easy to open/clean.

·         Low operating weight/low liquid content.

·         Easy availability of spares and quick supplies to service requirements.

 

Application industries: Along with Power PHE is also used in cement, steel, chemical, petrochemical, pharma, fertilizer, paper and pulp, sugar, dairy, food and beverage, HVAC, distillery, breweries, automotive, textile, oil and fats, DG sets, effluent treatment, etc.

 PHE  comes in following different models:

Gasketed plate heat exchanger:

This is the most widely used variant of PHE  which consists of a  set of embossed plates fitted adjoining top each other and each plate separated by a gasket. This is used for most oil, water, etc. applications. The gasket, which is mechanically secured or glued onto every plate, ensures that the flow gaps are securely sealed to the outside and from the second medium involved in the heat exchange. Also for different compositions and corrosive properties, the best fit material of construction of plates and gaskets are used.

Brazed Plate heat exchanger:

Consists of embossed plates , fit into one another and vacuum brazed with copper , nickel or stainless steel to form a compact and pressure proof unit. It is designed for applications like cooling of lube oil, condensing in refrigeration plant.

Cladded plate heat exchanger:

This is a well researched in-house design where the fixed plate and pressure plates are cladded with stainless steel or similar metals to make the outer surfaces compatible with process and utility fluids. This is effective in food, dairy, brewery and similar hygienic applications.

Depending on the conditions of use, the plates and gaskets  can be replaced, added, removed and re-assembled several times. PHEs are low investment and lower in operation and maintenance cost well. They have self cleaning quality  due to highly turbulent flow behavior.

It can also be used for smallest temperature difference. PHE spares , i.e., gasket , plates , etc. as required are easily made available to our customers.

EVALUATING PLATE HEAT EXCHANGERS

All plate heat exchangers look similar on the outside. The difference lies on the inside, in the details of the plate design and the sealing technologies used. Hence, when evaluating a plate heat exchanger, it is very important not only to explore the details of the product being supplied but also to analyze the level of research and development carried out by the manufacturer and the post-commissioning service and spare parts availability.

 

An important aspect to take into account when evaluating a heat exchanger are the forms of corrugation within the heat exchanger. There are two types : intermating and chevron corrugations. In general, greater heat transfer enhancement is produced from chevrons for a given increase in pressure drop and are more commonly used than intermating corrugations. There are so many different ways of modifications to increase heat exchangers efficiency that it is extremely doubtful that any of them will be supported by a commercial simulator. The main objective of having a cost benefit heat exchanger compared to the usage of traditional heat exchanger must always be fulfilled by heat exchanger enhancement.