GEA Heat Exchangers / GEA PHE Systems

PHE University at GEA PHE Systems North America PHE 101 Anatomy and Function of a Plate Heat Exchanger
Jon Paulos, Manager of Business Development Revised 5 November 2010

Contents of this Session.

What is a plate heat exchanger?

- Heat Exchanger definition. - Plate Heat Exchanger definition.

How does a plate heat exchanger work?

- Gasketed - Brazed - Welded

Components

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

What is a plate heat exchanger?

A heat exchanger is a vessel used to transfer heat from one medium to another without allowing the respective media (fluids or gasses) to mix and become crosscontaminated. A plate heat exchanger (PHE) is a heat exchanger that uses multiple layers of corrugated plates, with two media running in alternate layers, transferring heat from one media to the other.

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

How does a PHE work?

Shown here is an exploded view of a typical plate heat exchanger. This is called a countercurrent or counterflow design because the two media flow counter to each other, in opposite directions.
One media enters at the top, flows through every other channel, then leaves at the bottom.

The other media enters at the bottom, flows through the remaining channel, then leaves at the top.
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Jon Paulos, November 2010

GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

How does a PHE work?

Heres another view of the same heat exchanger. This is called a single pass design because the two media pass each other only once within the heat exchanger. Single pass designs account for the majority of plate heat exchanger designs, but multi-pass designs are common.

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

How does a PHE work?

This is a multi-pass design, called that because the two media pass each other more than one time within the heat exchanger. This example is a two-pass design.

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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Basic Anatomy for a Gasketed PHE

Heat Transfer Plate Follow Pressure Plate Support Leg

Carry (or Upper) Beam

Base Pressure Plate

Connection

Tie Rod Assembly - Threaded Rod Support Foot Gasket

- Cast Bushings (Lock Bushing at Base end, Thrust Bushing at Follow end). - Locknut - Lockwasher
GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

Guide (or Lower) Beam

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Basic Anatomy for Brazed PHE

This example is a single-pass design.
Connection (there are multiple types)

Pressure Reinforcement Plate (aka the Bottom Plate)

Pressure Reinforcement Plate (aka the Top plate)

Heat Transfer Plate Stack

Mounting Stud (does not go through the unit)

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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Basic Anatomy for a Fully Welded Bloc PHE

Bloc heat exchangers are cross-flow in design (vs. the counterflow seen earlier). Shown here is a 4pass design, where the two media pass each other 4 times.
Plate Pack Top Head Panel Gasket Panel

Column
Secondary Side Connection
Jon Paulos, November 2010

Baffle

Support

Bottom Head
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Primary Side Connection

GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

Plate Corrugations
Because plate heat exchangers transfer heat most efficiently when there is a lot of turbulence in the media, they always have corrugations embossed in the heat transfer plates. Shown here is an example of a Brazed PHE heat transfer plate. Corrugation patterns vary according to requirements of each application.

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems

Plate Corrugations
The heat transfer efficiency of the plate also relies on the even flow of media over the entire area (the Heat Transfer Surface Area). This frequently requires a special area near the port, designed to distribute the media across the entire Heat Transfer Surface Area. Because liquid media takes the path of least resistance, the distribution area ensures full use of the Heat Transfer Surface Area by spreading the media evenly across the face of the plate.
Jon Paulos, November 2010

Media enters here. Distribution area spreads media.

Heat Transfer Surface Area. Note the corrugations.

Media leaves here.

(NT150S H Gasketed PHE plate shown)
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More Information

For more information, contact us:

- Phone: 717-268-6200 - Email: info.geaphena@geagroup.com - Fax: 717-268-6119

Or go to our web site:

- www.gea-phe.com/usa

Select Brazed PHEs directly at:

- www.flatplateselect.com

Jon Paulos, November 2010

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GEA Heat Exchangers/ GEA PHE Systems