Heat exchangers are commonly used in heating, cooling and ventilation systems. In modern construction, great importance is attached to energy efficiency, so the heat recovery function is becoming more and more important - not only in the residential segment, but also in the industrial segment. Plate heat exchangers are used in almost every industry sector. Learn about the advantages of their use and see which models are worth considering during installation!
From the article you will learn:
- what are heat exchangers used in industry,
- what are the advantages of using plate heat exchangers,
- what heat exchangers to pay attention to during installation.
Application of plate heat exchangers
Plate heat exchangers are devices used for non-contact heat exchange between two independent media. They consist of a series of plates made of stainless steel, between which fluids flow and transfer heat. The heating plates are pressed in such a way that channels are created between them through which the medium flows. In the case of brazed plate heat exchangers, the plates are joined together in a package using solder (copper or stainless steel LUNATM).
In screwed plate heat exchangers, gaskets are used between the plates and the whole unit is screwed together with screws between the cover plates. They are characterized by very high design flexibility, enabling the device to be adapted to the required operating conditions. The detachable design of the exchanger allows for its expansion and disassembly to perform periodic servicing.
Due to the versatile nature of exchangers, they are used in the industry:
- food - when processing liquid products such as juices, jams or oils. In this case, we will use screwed plate heat exchangers
- pharmaceutical - due to the possibility of easy cleaning. In pharmacy, 3-A certified exchangers with low surface roughness are mainly used. An example is the P-line heat exchanger from SECESPOL. Screwed exchangers in a hygienic version are also used, made entirely of stainless steel, with special certified seals,
- chemical - due to the guarantee of tightness in the heat exchange process, brazed plate exchangers determine production safety,
- petrochemical - in crude oil processing processes,
- marine - in ship drive cooling systems,
- heating – both brazed plate exchangers and screwed plate exchangers are used. In case of very high temperatures, gaskets made of appropriate material are required.
Plate heat exchangers are also found in nuclear power plants and the energy industry, where they are used in secondary circuits of cooling systems.
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Advantages of plate heat exchangers
Plate exchangers have higher heat transfer coefficients than shell-and-tube models. Efficiency should therefore be considered the first of their many advantages. It is also worth mentioning corrosion resistance , especially models soldered with LUNA TM stainless material, which is a mandatory feature in this type of installations. The operation, cleaning or servicing of such exchangers does not pose any major problems, and their compact size means that they do not take up much space.
Technologies and materials used to produce exchangers translate into their reliability and durability . The devices are designed to operate very efficiently in a wide range of applications. They are compact and flexible solutions for hot water systems, central heating, solar and geothermal installations, heat pumps, ventilation and air conditioning.
Plate heat exchangers are available in many different variants, which translates into flexibility in the design of installations and the ability to choose various types of connections . Selection of the appropriate model for a given application is made easier thanks to selection programs, e.g. the Cairo selection program by SECESPOL.
The LUNA series exchangers are made entirely of stainless materials and are also characterized by an increased level of hygiene.
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Overview of brazed plate heat exchangers available on the market
When looking for high-quality exchangers that will work well in industrial installations, it is worth paying attention to the SECESPOL brand range. Its offer includes devices from the following series:
L-line
Products intended for standard heating or cooling installations . This type of exchanger can be found in a central heating system, domestic hot water system or a system with a fireplace with a water jacket. It is characterized by a compact, compact design and easy assembly and disassembly. A high heat transfer coefficient goes hand in hand with resistance to extreme temperatures and pressure values. Articles in this series are made of stainless steel and brazed with copper. They can work with water, propylene glycol solutions, group II fluids, and after consulting the manufacturer, also with other media.
LJ30M
These are brazed, micro-channel exchangers with exceptionally high efficiency. The heat exchange surface in their case is very large, despite the small dimensions of the devices. At the same time, the special embossing of the heating plates translates into reduced flow resistance. This type of exchanger will be used, among others, in central heating and hot water installations, as well as in solar or geothermal heating systems . It can also be used for air conditioning, ventilation and cooling systems, making it perfect for industry.
GLOW
These are exchangers made entirely of stainless materials. They are used in systems with increased sanitary requirements . They are therefore suitable for refrigeration systems with increased hygiene requirements and drinking or demineralized water installations. Moreover, due to their solid construction and reliability, they are useful in systems with galvanized pipes, industrial cooling systems and hydraulic oil coolers. They are perfect for working with aggressive media.
R-line
Exchangers intended for refrigeration or heating systems. They work as evaporators and condensers of refrigerants . They are therefore perfect for cooling units, chilled water generators or compressor heat pumps. The special shape of the channels ensures effective evaporation or condensation of the medium. In condensers, hot steam goes to the upper stub of the cooling side, condensing along the way and achieving a certain degree of subcooling. In evaporators, the refrigerant goes to the lower stub of the exchanger, evaporating along the way and achieving the required degree of superheating.
SafePLATE double wall
The exchanger from this series will be used for installations in which the key issue is protecting media against mixing . Thanks to its solid construction, any leaks can be effectively detected very quickly. This is all thanks to the double wall system in the side surface, which prevents the mixing of factors as a result of damage caused by corrosion or water hammer. These products are therefore ideal for drinking water and domestic hot water systems, as well as for technological systems.
You can find a plate heat exchanger for your installation in the Onninen wholesaler!
Regardless of what type of installation you are performing, you will find high-quality brazed plate heat exchangers in the assortment of our online wholesaler. They are available in many different variants, so they are perfect for systems in any industry sector. Check out the SECESPOL brand offer , where you will find both brazed plate heat exchangers and screwed plate heat exchangers that will guarantee the efficiency, energy efficiency and reliability of the system you install!
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