SHREE DEVI INSTITUTE OF

TECHNOLOGY

Kenjar, Mangalore
(Affiliated to VTU, Belgaum, Approved by AICTE, New Delhi
Recognized by Govt.of Karnataka)

Seminar
On

PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

By

Bhayani Dhaval Satishbhai

4SH06ME004

DEPARTMENT OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
 CONTENTS

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Types of Plate Heat Exchanger

• Design of Plate Heat Exchanger

• Working of Plate Heat Exchanger

• Calculation of Heat Transfer

• Advantages

• Limitations of Operation

• Applications

• References
 ABSTRACT

Decreasing size and increasing heat load is the typical

feature of the modern day heat exchanger industry. While traditional
areas of compact heat exchanger applications such as automotive,
aerospace, etc continue to demand for even higher heat transfer with
further shrinking of available space, there is large number of new
areas coming up in the usage of compact heat exchangers. These
include areas such as cooling of electronic equipment, cooling of
LASER and related technologies, cooling technology for fuel cells etc.
A number of traditional industries have also turned towards compact
heat exchangers including chemical process industry, power
industry, and food & beverages industry. The usage of compact heat
exchangers for multi-phase flow is another area in which a lot of
attention has been paid in the recent years.
 INTRODUCTION

Heat exchangers are important, and used frequently in the

processing, heat and power, air-conditioning and refrigeration, heat
recovery, transportation and manufacturing industries. Such
equipment is also important in electronics cooling and for
environmental issues like thermal pollution, waste disposal and
sustainable development. Various types of heat exchangers exists,
However, most advanced type of Heat Exchanger is Plate heat
Exchanger and has already overcome the initial Shell and tube type
of Heat Exchanger.

In Industrial level heat exchangers have played a key role in

improving the efficiency of the fuel used in the different machineries
and also in reduction of thermal pollution. A plate type 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 spread out over the plates.
This facilitates the transfer of heat, and greatly increases the speed of
the temperature change. It is not as common to see plate heat
exchangers because they need well-sealed gaskets to prevent the
fluids from escaping, although modern manufacturing processes have
made them feasible.

Most geothermal fluids, because of their elevated temperature,

contain a variety of dissolved chemicals. These chemicals are
frequently corrosive toward standard materialsof construction. As a
result, it is advisable in most cases to isolate the geothermal fluid
from the process to which heat is being transferred.

The task of heat transfer from the geothermal fluid to a closed

process loop is most often handled by a plate heat exchanger. The
two most common types used in geothermal applications are: bolted
and brazed. For smaller systems, in geothermal resource areas of a
specific character, downhole heat exchangers (DHEs) provide a
unique means of heat extraction. These devices eliminate the
requirement for physical removal of fluid from the well. For this
reason, DHE-based systems avoid entirely the environmental and
practical problems associated with fluid disposal.

Shell and tube heat exchangers play only a minor role in low-
temperature, direct-use systems. These units have been in common
use in industrial applications for many years and, as a result, are well
understood. For these reasons, shell and tube heat exchangers will
not be covered in this chapter.

Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and specialty chemical

companies are challenging the heat transfer community to provide
solutions that enable critical processes to operate at extremely cold
temperatures.In the past,it was adequate to operate at temperatures
as low as -80˚F (-62.2˚C).Now industry continues to push for colder
temperatures. Low-temperature heat transfer fluid manufacturers and
heat transfer companies are being asked to provide systems that can
run reliably at -148˚F to -184˚F (-100˚C to -120˚C).

In many heat exchanger applications, it is desirable to achieve

a high, or a very high, design pressure, i.e. to be able to permit a high
or a very high pressure of one or both of the media flowing through
the plate interspaces. It is also desirable to be able to permit such
high pressures in plate heat exchangers of the kind defined above
having permanently joined heat exchanger plates, e.g. through
brazing. Such high design pressures are difficult to achieve without
the provision of external strengthening components.

The cost of heat exchange surfaces is a major cost factor when

the temperature differences are not large. One way of meeting this
problem is the plate type heat exchanger.
CONSTRUCTION OF PHE
 A plate heat exchanger consists of a series of thin, corrugated
plates which are mentioned above. These plates are gasketed,
welded or brazed together depending on the application of the heat
exchanger. The plates are compressed together in a rigid frame to
form an arrangement of parallel flow channels with alternating hot
and cold fluids.

As compared to shell and tube heat exchangers, the temperature

approach in a plate heat exchangers may be as low as 1 °C whereas
shell and tube heat exchangers require an approach of 5 °C
or more. For the same amount of heat exchanged, the size of the
plate heat exchanger is smaller, because of the large heat transfer
area afforded by the plates (the large area through which heat can
travel). Expansion and reduction of the heat transfer area is
possible in a plate heat exchanger.

A plate heat exchanger consists of several gasketed metal

plates that are clamped between a stationary head and follower plate
by tie bolts. The plates are rectangular with circular ports at each
corner in which the fluids may enter and exit. A specially designed
corrugated surface is stamped onto the thin walled
plates. Numerous plates are arranged with gaskets that cause the
two fluids to be directed through alternating spaces between the
plates.

A single unit can use up to 700 plates giving an overall surface

area of 2500m2.

The plate heat exchanger (PHE) is a specialized design well

suited to transferring heat between medium- and low-pressure fluids.
Welded, semi-welded and gasketted heat exchangers are used for
heat exchange between high-pressure fluids or where a more
compact product is required. In place of a pipe passing through a
chamber, there are instead two alternating chambers, usually thin in
depth, separated at their largest surface by a corrugated metal plate.
The plates used in a plate and frame heat exchanger are obtained by
one piece pressing of metal plates. Stainless steel is a commonly
used metal for the plates because of its ability to withstand high
temperatures, its strength, and its corrosion resistance. The plates
are often spaced by rubber sealing gaskets which are cemented into
a section around the edge of the plates. The plates are pressed to
form troughs at right angles to the direction of flow of the liquid which
runs through the channels in the heat exchanger.

The plates produce an extremely large surface area, which

allows for the fastest possible transfer. Making each chamber thin
ensures that the majority of the volume of the liquid contacts the
plate, again aiding exchange. The troughs also create and maintain a
turbulent flow in the liquid to maximize heat transfer in the exchanger.
A high degree of turbulence can be obtained at low flow rates and
high heat transfer coefficient can then be achieved.

A plate heat exchanger consists of a series of thin, corrugated

plates which are mentioned above. These plates are gasketed,
welded or brazed together depending on the application of the heat
exchanger. The plates are compressed together in a rigid frame to
form an arrangement of parallel flow channels with alternating hot and
cold fluids.
As compared to shell and tube heat exchangers, the temperature
approach in a plate heat exchangers may be as low as 1 °C whereas
shell and tube heat exchangers require an approach of 5 °C or
more. For the same amount of heat exchanged, the size of the plate
heat exchanger is smaller, because of the large heat transfer area
afforded by the plates (the large area through which heat can travel).

CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS
 The nature of fluid flow through the plate heat exchanger.
The primary and secondary fluids flow in opposite directions on
either side of the plates. Water flow and circuiting are controlled
by the placement of the plate gaskets. By varying the position of
the gasket, water can be channeled over a plate or past it. Gaskets
are installed in such a way that a gasket failure cannot result in a
mixing of the fluids. In addition, the outer circumference of all
gaskets is exposed to the atmosphere.

Types of Plates
 The most commonly used plate metal is stainless steel,
although other materials such as Hastelloy, Incoloy, titanium, nickel
and tantalum can be used as well. In order to achieve market
success, each plate pattern must undergo extensive research, as well
as technical and commercial reasoning.The plates are mass-
produced in many different sizes,shapes and corrugation patterns.
The two main corrugation patterns used are the intermating or
ìwashboardî type and the chevron or ìherringboneî type.

Herringbone Type

The herringbone type is most commonly used and is shown in

Figure. The corrugations are pressed to the depth of the plate
spacing. This means that the two adjacent plates will have
numerous contact points and will produce a more turbulent flow.
Also, with the inclusion of contact points the structure yields
a higher strength. This enables it to withstand higher pressures.
Washboard Type

The washboard type operates only at lower pressures and

requires a heavier plate. Transverse corrugations are pressed to a
depth larger than the plate spacing. As a result, a means of
maintaining the plate spacing must be established.
This is accomplished by dimples that are pressed on to
adjacent troughs and crests. These dimples contact one another to
keep the desired spacing.
 WORKING

The plate heat exchanger (PHE) is a specialized design well suited to

transferring heat between medium- and low-pressure fluids. Welded,
semi-welded and brazed heat exchangers are used for heat
exchange between high-pressure fluids or where a more compact
product is required. In place of a pipe passing through a chamber,
there are instead two alternating chambers, usually thin in depth,
separated at their largest surface by a corrugated metal plate. The
plates used in a plate and frame heat exchanger are obtained by one
piece pressing of metal plates. Stainless steel is a commonly used
metal for the plates because of its ability to withstand high
temperatures, its strength, and its corrosion resistance. The plates
are often spaced by rubber sealing gaskets which are cemented into
a section around the edge of the plates. The plates are pressed to
form troughs at right angles to the direction of flow of the liquid which
runs through the channels in the heat exchanger. These troughs are
arranged so that they interlink with the other plates which forms the
channel with gaps of 1.3–1.5 mm between the plates.

The plates produce an extremely large surface area, which allows for
the fastest possible transfer. Making each chamber thin ensures that
the majority of the volume of the liquid contacts the plate, again aiding
exchange. The troughs also create and maintain a turbulent flow in
the liquid to maximize heat transfer in the exchanger. A high degree
of turbulence can be obtained at low flow rates and high heat transfer
coefficient can then be achieved.

A plate heat exchanger consists of a series of thin, corrugated plates

which are mentioned above. These plates are gasketed, welded or
brazed together depending on the application of the heat exchanger.
The plates are compressed together in a rigid frame to form an
arrangement of parallel flow channels with alternating hot and cold
fluids.

As compared to shell and tube heat exchangers, the temperature

approach in a plate heat exchangers may be as low as 1 °C whereas
shell and tube heat exchangers require an approach of 5 °C or more.
For the same amount of heat exchanged, the size of the plate heat
exchanger is smaller, because of the large heat transfer area afforded
by the plates (the large area through which heat can travel).
Expansion and reduction of the heat transfer area is possible in a
plate heat exchanger.
 CALCULATIONS

The performance of heat exchangers operating under forced flow

conditions is defined by the amount of heat transferred between the
two fluid streams and is characterized by the UA value or the
dimensionless factors: the effectiveness,ε, or number of transfer units
(NTU’s), and the capacity ratio,Cr,
 ADVANTAGES

Advantages that exist with the use of plate heat exchangers are as
follows:

• Compactness: The units in a plate heat exchanger occupy less

floor space and floor loading by having a large surface area that
is formed from a small volume. This in turn produces a high
overall heat transfer coefficient due to the heat transfer
associated with the narrow passages and corrugated surfaces.
• Flexibility: Changes can be made to heat exchanger
performance by utilizing a wide range of fluids and conditions
that can be modified to adapt to the various design
specifications. These specifications can be matched with
different plate corrugations.

• Low Fabrication Costs: Welded plates are relatively more

expensive than pressed plates. Plate heat exchangers are
made from pressed plates, which allow greater resistance to
corrosion and chemical reactions.

• Ease of Cleaning: The heat exchanger can be easily

dismantled for inspection and cleaning (especially in food
processing) and the plates are also easily replaceable as they
can be removed and replaced individually.

• Temperature Control: The plate heat exchanger can operate

with relatively small temperature differences. This is an
advantage when high temperatures must be avoided. Local
overheating and possibility of stagnant zones can also be
reduced by the form of the flow passage
 Disadvantages

A flat plat heat exchanger also has some disadvantages in

comparison with other types of heat exchangers as follows:

1. Potential for leakage - Although plate and frame heat

exchangers are designed to allow the plates and the gaskets
between them to be firmly clamped together, there is still a
greater potential for leakage than with either shell and tube or
spiral heat exchangers.

2. Higher pressure drop - The narrow passageways for fluid flow,

which lead to a high overall heat transfer coefficient, also lead
to a higher pressure drop, and thus a higher cost for pumping,
than shell and tube heat exchangers.

3. Not good for large fluid temperature differences - A flat plate

heat exchanger does not work as well as a shell and tube heat
exchanger for cases where there is a large temperature
difference between the two fluids.

4. Doesn't work well with very high fluid temperatures - The

gaskets may impose temperature limitations for plate and frame
heat exchangers.
 APPLICATIONS

Plate heat exchangers were introduced in1923 for milk

pasteurIzation applications and now find major applications in liquid–
liquid (viscosities upto10 Pas ) heat transfer duties.They are most
common in the dairy, juice, beverage, Alcoholic drink, general food
processing, and pharmaceutical industries, where their ease of
cleaning and the thermal control required for
sterilization/pasteurizationmake the mideal. They are also used in the
synthetic rubber industry, papermills, and in the process heaters,
coolers, and closed-circuit cooling systems of large petro chemical
and powerplants. Here heat rejection to sea water or brackish water
is common in many applications, and titanium plates are then used.
Plate heat exchangers are not well suited for lower-density gas-
to-gasapplications.They are used for condensation or evaporation of
non-low-vapordensities. Lower vapor Densities limit evaporation to
lowe routlet vapor fractions. Specially designed plates are
Now available for condensing as well as evaporation of high-
density vapors such as ammonia, propylene, and other common
refrigerants, as well as for combine devaporation/condensation
duties, also at fairly low vapordensities.

References:
 1. www.Alfa-laval.com
2. http://www.tranter.com
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_heat_exchanger
4. http://books.google.co.in/books?
id=P3gTR8YHLHgC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=classification+of
+plate+heat+exchanger&source=bl&ots=5bJSFagJ6m&sig=ilpz
DkTciV19yH4iNDKP7D_-
eFE&hl=en&ei=7C9jTdPcGYaGrAegpIHVAg&sa=X&oi=book_r
esult&ct=result#v=onepage&q=classification%20of%20plate
%20heat%20exchanger&f=false
5. Plate heat exchangers: design, applications and
performance By L. Wang, Bengt Sundén, R. M. Manglik

Patent Referred:

Vladimir L. Goldstein. Corrugated Plate Heat Exchanger. CA

1315558, filed Aug. 11 1987, issued Apr. 6, 1993.