Plate Heat Exchanger: Working Principle, Installation, Types

WHAT IS PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER (PHE)?

A Plate Heat Exchanger is a type of heat exchanger that uses metal plates to transfer heat between two fluids. This has a 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 (DHW) flow rate 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.

Challenges To Overcome For All PHE Manufacturers

Inside An Advanced Alfa Laval Service Centre: Plate Heat Exchangers

PHE Working Principle

Plate Heat Exchangers were first produced in the 1920s and have since been vast used in a great number of sectors. A plate exchanger consists of a series of parallel plates that are placed one above the other so as to allow the formation of a series of channels for fluids to flow between them.

Plate Heat Exchanger Assembly:

Alfa Laval delivers your heat exchanger assembled and pressure tested. Gasket Plate heat exchangers can easily be opened for inspection and cleaning. Should the capacity requirements change in the future, additional plates can easily be hung in the frame on site.

The following show assembly step by step:
Step 1: The frame is put together. It consists of frame and pressure plates, top and bottom carrying bars, and connections. The endplate is the first plate to be hung in the frame.

Step 2: Then the plates corresponding to the plate specifications are positioned in the frame.

Step 3: The tightening bolts are fitted and the plate pack is tightened by means of a spanner or any other suitable tool to a set measure (specified in the platage specification).

Plate Heat Exchanger Installation:

All the heat exchangers in this brochure have connections in the frame plate. They are referred to as S1, S2, S3 and S4. The gasketed heat exchanger can be placed directly on the floor. When possible, it is always safer to secure the unit with foundation bolts. The plate heat exchanger is noted for occupying less space than traditional heat exchangers. When planning the space recommended, it is necessary to leave space on one side of the heat exchanger only. The pipe connections can be either screwed or flanged, depending on the type of heat exchanger selected.

The brazed plate heat exchanger will normally be built into the pipework, or mounted into a small console. The inlet of one medium is next to the outlet of the other. If S1 is the inlet for medium 1, then S4 is the outlet for medium 2. Every heat exchanger delivered is accompanied by instructions as to which I let and outlet to use. Depending Upon the type of connection selected, prepare the pipework with screwed thread ends, fit flanges or prepare for welding.

Some of the accessories available for the plate heat exchangers are insulation, drip trays, and protection sheets.

For More Details of PHE and its Benefits, click below :

TYPES OF PLATE HEAT EXCHANGERS

Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers

Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers

Welded Spiral Heat Exchangers

Advantages

Heat transfer precision

Low cost

Greatest reliability

Responsible

Easy to expand capacity

Disadvantage

Poor sealing would case leakage occurrence which will be a replacement hassle.

Limited pressure use, generally not more than 1.5MPa.

High blockage occurrence especially with suspended solids in fluids.

The flow resistance is larger than the shell and tube.