Advanced Types of Plate Heat Exchangers (PHE) Design and practical aspects for the industrial PHE specification and selection

Avi Shalev , Krashin-Shalev Metal Industries Ltd., Barkan Ind. Park , Israel

Plate Heat Exchangers became last decades a default chose in more and industrial processes.

A.Advanced PHE technology – asymmetric plate pattern.

Modern asymmetric plates allow utilization of maximum allowed pressure drops for creation of highest turbulence and film coefficients in both circuits.

B.Types of Plate Heat Exchangers:

Gasketed, Welded, Semi-Welded, Brazed, Spiral

C.Limitation of PHEs application for industrial processes.

There are some limitations for Gasketed PHEs implementation below which GPHEs are default choice. The main limitations are as follows:

-Working pressures beyond 25 barg.

-Working temperatures above 150-160°C

S&T and Welded PHE step in at higher pressures.

-Excessive fouling.

Spiral Plate HE are modern solution for heavily fouled processes

-Low pressure gas processes.

-Process fluids compatibility with rubber gaskets.

Variety of modern rubber materials gasket-free Welded PHEs (WPHE) are available.

Safety concerns about lethal service in rubber gasketed equipment.

Gasket-free WPHE have to be considered prior consideration of S&T

-Large flows.

Economically effective PHE sizes are considered up to 12" ports. 14" to 20" are available. Application of such large units becomes questionable from the maintenance cost point of view.

D.Specification of PHEs.

ISO 15547 (API 662) Standard is the best specification guide for every industry.

Key points:

-Surface Margin description as relative value.