The Plate Heat Exchanger is relatively new heat transfer technology and they perform very well due to the research and design that is behind them. Plate and Frames are inexpensive, highly efficient and unlike other types of heat transfer equipment, they are modifiable after any length of performance. Their design is able to be adjusted to fit the ideal size for the current process, and the current process is often not what it used to be.

You walk past one of your plate heat exchangers that's been working great for a long time. But, today you notice that it''s leaking onto the floor in several different locations. You need this heat exchanger for a critical heating or cooling application at your facility. You can''t remember ever changing the gaskets on the unit, so you run to your office to get the records on the heat exchanger. You notice that the unit was supplied with glued gaskets.....what now?

Plate heat exchangers can supply reliable operating service for years with proper maintenance, but what about when something goes wrong? Is your plate heat exchanger leaking? Is the leak slow or fast? How can you know what the problem is and the best way to address it. We'll review some of the basics to help you troubleshoot problems with gaskets or the maintenance condition of your plate exchanger.

The design of plate heat exchangers is very reliable since they have several fail-safe spots to visibly show any leaks.  Nearly all possible leaks will cause the flow to spill out the sides of the exchanger to the ground so the problem becomes obvious.

Understanding the most common causes of Heat Exchanger failure and possible preventative solutions can help teams ensure plant performance is sustained; and ensure measures are applied before any irreversible damage is caused within the Exchanger.

Plate heat exchangers (PHEs) have been installed in larger heat pump systems and refrigeration systems since the 1980s. Tech-nicians who deal with these systems need to know some specific details of how they work. Part one of this article covered PHE design, on-site assembly and service, leak indication, freezing risk, and resistance from vibration, pressure, and seismic occurrences. This week the article continues its discussions of the plate heat exchanger as vaporizer and condenser.

Plate heat exchangers (PHEs) have been installed in larger heat pump systems and refrigeration systems since the 1980s. Tech-nicians who deal with these systems need to know some specific details of how they work.Part one of this article covered PHE design, on-site assembly and service, leak indication, freezing risk, and resistance from vibration, pressure, and seismic occurrences. This week the article continues its discussions of the plate heat exchanger as vaporizer and condenser.