Plate Heat Exchanger
Heat Exchangers
Plate Heat Exchanger
1. Product Overview
A plate heat exchanger (PHE) is a highly efficient heat transfer unit built up from a series of corrugated metal plates stacked in a frame. Adjacent plates are sealed with gaskets, and the hot and cold fluids flow counter-currently through the alternate channels formed between the plates to exchange heat. Each unit consists of plates, gaskets, a fixed frame plate, a movable pressure plate, a carrying bar, clamping bolts, inlet/outlet nozzles and supports.
Typical applications: heating and cooling of chemical process fluids, heat exchange of pharmaceutical materials, pasteurization and cooling in the food industry, heat exchange in HVAC systems, and lubricating-oil cooling in the machinery industry.
Key features: high heat transfer efficiency, compact structure with a small footprint, easy disassembly and cleaning, and a flexibly adjustable heat transfer area (plates can be added or removed). Not suitable for high-temperature or high-pressure duties, or media containing solid particles.
2. Working Principle
Hot fluid enters odd-numbered channels (formed alternately by plates and gaskets) from the inlet nozzle, while cold fluid enters even-numbered channels from the other side. The two fluids flow in counter-current directions through adjacent channels. The corrugated plates create turbulence, destroy the boundary layer, and significantly improve heat transfer efficiency. Heat is transferred from the hot fluid side to the cold fluid side through the plates. The gaskets between plates completely isolate the cold and hot fluids, preventing mixing and leakage.
3. System Classification
By Sealing Form
| Type | Features | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Gasketed (most common) | Plates and gaskets removable for cleaning, plate count adjustable | General applications requiring periodic cleaning |
| Semi-welded | Plates welded in pairs, gaskets only on periphery | Organic solvents or slightly corrosive media, one side needs infrequent cleaning |
| Fully welded | All plates welded, gasket-free | High temperature, high pressure or strongly corrosive media |
| Brazed (all copper/stainless) | Copper or stainless steel brazed sealing, no gaskets | Refrigeration industry, compact small-to-medium heat exchange |
By Corrugation Type
| Type | Features | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Chevron/herringbone (most common) | Crossed corrugations create contact points, high efficiency, good pressure bearing | Universal type, covers most conditions |
| spherical | Stronger pressure bearing | High pressure applications |
| Parallel flat | Low fluid resistance | Large flow rate, low pressure drop applications |
By Pass Arrangement
| Type | Features | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Single pass | Each fluid passes through once | Large temperature difference, moderate flow rate |
| Multi-pass | Fluid reverses multiple times inside the exchanger | Small temperature difference, requiring increased flow velocity |
4. Detailed Technical Parameters
4.1 Common Plate Materials and Applications
| Material | Grade/Standard | Applicable Media | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 stainless steel | AISI 304 | Water, cooling water, general food, general chemical | Standard configuration, cost-effective |
| 316L stainless steel | AISI 316L | Chloride-containing water, organic acids, pharmaceutical | Recommended first choice, excellent corrosion resistance |
| 316Ti stainless steel | AISI 316Ti | Chloride-containing water, pitting corrosion resistance | Special pitting resistance applications |
| Titanium | Gr.1/Gr.2 | Strongly corrosive media (HCl, wet chlorine, seawater) | High cost, selected as needed |
| Nickel alloy | Hastelloy C-276/C-226 | Strong corrosion (H2SO4, mixed HCl/H2SO4, HF) | Special strong corrosion applications |
| Duplex steel | SAF 2205/S32750 | Chloride-containing, high stress environments | Good comprehensive performance |
| SMO 254 | 254 SMO | Halogen-containing media, high-purity phosphoric acid | Pitting and crevice corrosion resistance |
4.2 Common Gasket Materials and Applications
| Material | Max Temperature | Applicable Media | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBR (Nitrile rubber) | 110°C | Water, cooling water, general food, oils | Most commonly used, best cost performance |
| EPDM (Ethylene propylene diene monomer) | 150°C | Water, steam, pharmaceutical, food, weak acids/alkalis | Versatile |
| FKM/Viton (Fluorocarbon rubber) | 180°C | Strongly corrosive media, high-temp mineral oil, organic solvents | Good corrosion and temp resistance, high cost |
| PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) | 250°C | Almost all strongly corrosive media | Low friction coefficient requires auxiliary sealing structure |
| Compressed asbestos fiber | 250°C | High-temp steam, organic solvents | Requires higher clamping force |
4.3 Typical Specification Table
| Single Plate Area (m²) | Plate Count | Total Area (m²) | Design Pressure (MPa) | Design Temp (°C) | Nozzle Size (DN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.03～0.1 | 10～50 | 0.3～5 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～150 | DN15～DN32 |
| 0.1～0.3 | 20～100 | 2～30 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～170 | DN25～DN65 |
| 0.3～0.5 | 30～200 | 10～100 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～170 | DN40～DN100 |
| 0.5～1.0 | 30～300 | 15～300 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～200 | DN50～DN150 |
| 1.0～2.0 | 30～300 | 30～600 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～200 | DN65～DN200 |
| 2.0～3.0 | 50～300 | 100～900 | 0.6～1.6 | 120～220 | DN100～DN250 |
Note: Actual plate count is determined by heat exchange area calculation. Plates can be added or removed to adjust area. Above pressure range is for gasketed type; fully welded and brazed types can be higher.
4.4 Design Conditions & Performance Indicators
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Design pressure range (gasketed) | 0.6～1.6MPa |
| Design pressure range (fully welded) | Up to 4.0MPa |
| Design temperature range | -20°C～220°C (depending on gasket and plate material) |
| Overall heat transfer coefficient (typical) | 3000～7000 W/(m²·K) (significantly higher than shell-and-tube) |
| Plate gap | 2～6mm (depending on corrugation depth) |
| Single-pass pressure drop | 0.01～0.05MPa (depending on velocity and pass count) |
| Nozzle standard | Per HG/T 20592 or customer requirements |
4.5 Electrical Parameters
Standard plate heat exchanger has no electrical requirements.
5. Core Component Selection
| Component | Common Brands | Features & Application |
|---|---|---|
| Plates | Alfa Laval, APV, GEA, quality domestic (Lanshi, Sifang, etc.) | Imported brands: rich model range; Domestic: good cost performance, covers most conditions |
| Gaskets | Imported matching or quality domestic | NBR/EPDM/FKM/PTFE selected by media, consumable requiring periodic replacement |
| Clamping mechanism | — | Bolt clamping (most common) / Hydraulic clamping (for large units) |
| Nozzle flanges | — | Standard flanges or tri-clamp connections, matched to customer piping |
| Clamping bolts | Quality domestic brands | 45# steel or 40Cr, quenched and tempered |
Customer brand preferences can be specified. For pre-owned equipment, availability depends on inventory.
6. Typical Application Fields
Chemical industry: Process fluid heating and cooling, process water heat exchange, solvent recovery heat exchange
Pharmaceutical industry: Preparation tank heat exchange, purified water cooling, WFI cooling
Food industry: Pasteurization cooling, UHT post-sterilization cooling, juice concentration heat exchange
HVAC: Central air conditioning heat exchange stations, district heating
Mechanical industry: Lubricant cooling, hydraulic oil cooling, electroplating solution cooling
New energy: Lithium battery coolant heat exchange
Refrigeration: Evaporators, condensers (brazed type)
7. Design Standards & Certifications
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| GB 16409-1996 | Plate heat exchangers (China) |
| NB/T 47004-2009 | Plates for plate heat exchangers (China) |
| ISO 9001:2015 | Quality management system |
| ASME VIII | Pressure vessels (fully welded type available upon request) |
| PED 2014/68/EU | EU pressure equipment directive (CE, available upon request) |
| EAC | Available upon request for Russia and Central Asia markets |
| GOST-R | Available upon request for Russian market |
| FDA | Food-grade plate heat exchangers available upon request |
| 3-A Sanitary | US sanitary standard (optional) |
8. Customizable Options
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Sealing form | Gasketed / Semi-welded / Fully welded / Brazed |
| Plate material | 304 / 316L / 316Ti / Titanium / Hastelloy / Duplex / SMO254 |
| Gasket material | NBR / EPDM / FKM / PTFE / Asbestos fiber |
| Corrugation type | Chevron/herringbone / Spherical / Parallel flat |
| Pass count | Single-pass / Multi-pass (determined by process calculation) |
| Nozzle type | Flange connection / Tri-clamp connection / Threaded connection |
| Nozzle position | Same side / Opposite sides |
| Support type | Hanging support / Floor leg support |
| Insulation | Rock wool / rubber-plastic insulation + stainless steel or color steel cladding |
| Special coating | Special plate coating (e.g., Duranod, Halar, etc.) |
9. Warranty Terms
| Equipment Status | Warranty Period | Warranty Scope |
|---|---|---|
| New equipment | 12 months | Plates, gaskets, frame plates, carrying bar, nozzles, bolts |
| Refurbished equipment | 6 months | Plates, gaskets, frame plates, carrying bar, nozzles, bolts |
| Pre-owned equipment (as-is supply) | 3 months | Main functional components |
Gasket special note: Gaskets are consumables. Normal aging and hardening during use is a normal phenomenon and is not covered by warranty. Gasket damage caused by incorrect media selection (e.g., swelling or corrosion) is not covered.
Final warranty terms are subject to contract. All orders include installation guidance and remote commissioning support.
10. Packaging & Delivery
| Item | Packaging Method |
|---|---|
| Complete PHE unit | Wooden box packaging, internal shock absorption, nozzle caps |
| Spare gaskets | Waterproof sealed packaging in carton |
| Spare plates (if any) | Wooden box packaging, inter-plate cardboard isolation |
Container capacity estimate (for reference only, subject to actual configuration):
Below 10m² small PHE: approximately 10-20 units per 20'GP container
10～50m² medium: approximately 2-5 units per 20'GP
50～100m² large: approximately 1-2 units per 20'GP or bulk
Above 100m² extra-large: bulk vessel transport
Installation service: On-site installation guidance available. PHE installation is relatively simple — pay attention to nozzle direction and correct gasket positioning. Technicians can be dispatched for large units (travel and accommodation expenses borne by buyer).
11. Information Required for Quotation
To obtain an accurate quotation, please provide the following information:
Hot fluid: name, inlet/outlet temperature, flow rate or heat load
Cold fluid: name, inlet/outlet temperature, flow rate or heat load
Working pressure on both sides (if applicable)
Media corrosiveness on both sides, whether containing solid particles
Plate material preference
Gasket material preference (if unknown, we can recommend based on media)
Sealing form preference: Gasketed / Semi-welded / Fully welded
Nozzle type and size requirements
Mounting method: Hanging / Floor-standing
Insulation required or not
Food grade or pharmaceutical grade requirements (if any)
Equipment status preference: New / Refurbished / Pre-owned
Budget range and brand preference (if any)
Delivery terms: FOB/CIF/DDP
Destination port or delivery address (for freight calculation)