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(PHE)

Plate & Frame
Heat Exchanger.

Plate & Frame Heat Exchangers provide exceptional and efficient heat transfer from one liquid to another, typically water to water or steam to liquid. Consisting of specially engineered corrugated metal plates assembled in a honeycomb pattern and tightened inside a frame between two pressure plates, one fixed and one adjustable. Each PHE is designed to provide optimal and enhanced performance to many applications and are available in a variety of configurations.

Advantages of a PHE

Small Footprint

Compact design, economical and requires less space than a shell & tube heat exchanger

Service Accessibility

Plates are removed easily for preventative maintenance, cleaning or replacement

Efficiency

Higher heat transfer from a greater fluid distribution over a larger surface area which rapidly increases the speed of the temperature changing

Fluid Compatibility

Variety of different plate alloys and gasket rubber or fibre compounds, to exactly match your fluid requirements

Versatile Design

Many different plate styles and patterns to match required applications.

Expandable Design

Plates can be easily added to increase the required heat transfer capability

Disdvantages of a PHE

  • Contamination
    Over time plates will build up with scale and debris
  • Replacement
    Gaskets tend to leak overtime, typically after 10-15 years replacements are required depending on the application
  • Application
    Not compatible for higher temperatures and pressures

Main Components of a PHE

PHE Parts

Main Components of a Plate

Plate Components

Applications

Food & Beverage icon

Food & Beverage

(Breweries, Dairy, Fruit, Vegetable)
Pasteurization
Sterilization
Evaporation
UHT Treatment
Reception Thermization
Wort Boiling

Industrial icon

Industrial

(Automotive, Mining, Pulp & Paper, Sugar)
Water Heating/Cooling
Demineralization
Evaporation
Economizing
Heat Recovery
Quench Oil Cooling
Caustic Solution Heating
Energy icon

Energy

(Biofuels, Nuclear, Renewable Power, Oil & Gas)
Heat Recovery
Geothermal
Quench Coolers
Lubrication Oil Cooling
Corrosive Fluid Heating/Cooling
Crude Oil Heating
Diesel Engine Cooling
Auxiliary Cooling
Chemical & Pharmaceutical icon

Chemical & Pharmaceutical

(Fertilizers, Petrochemicals, Inorganic Chemicals)
Solvent Heating
Glycol Cooling
Reactor Cooling
Extraction
Fermentation
Fragmentation
Methanation
Commercial HVAC icon

Commercial HVAC

(Hospitals, Condominiums, Shopping Centers)
Domestic Water Heating
Swimming Pool Heating
Free Cooling
Cooling Tower Isolation
Heat Pump Systems
Heat Recovery
Thermal Storage Systems
Marine icon

Marine

(Container Vessels, Bulk Carriers, Barges)
Lube Oil Cooling
Auxiliary Power Generation System
Jacket Water Cooling
Central Cooling
Seawater Isolation Exchanger
Engine Oil Cooling
Ventilation Coolers and Heaters

When Should A Plate & Frame Heat Exchanger Be Serviced?

As a heat exchanger becomes fouled with dirt, debris or scale often the modulating valve provides additional hot or cold liquid to help compensate for the loss of efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Over time the control valve will continue to open fully. Unfortunately on the hottest or coldest days, even with the valve fully open the heat exchanger cannot meet the thermal transfer requirements and the situation becomes critical.

Monitoring just the operating temperature provides a false sense of security. Recording the difference in the outlet and inlet pressures provides a more accurate result of the amount of fouling.

Fouling equal to the thickness of a piece of paper represents a 20% loss of thermal efficiency. In addition, the energy cost for pumps increases since the pump must work harder to overcome the increased pressure resistance through the PHE.

Differential pressure average for a PHE equals 2-4 psi when equipped with new or refurbished plates;
Service should be scheduled when the differential pressure increases up to 7-10 psi.

Fouled Plates Requiring Service
Fouled Plates Requiring Service or Replacement

What Causes Plate & Frame Heat Exchangers To Leak Internally?

  • Higher pressure side will leak into the lower pressure side, if a plate develops a pin hole or crack;
  • Over time the plates can crack since they are continuously flexing, this is often referred to as a “pop can effect” - continually bending the can back and forth in the same area will break it apart;
  • Cross contamination is preventable when “double walled” designed plates are used with potable water.

*Municipal codes verify from region to region with most new construction by-laws requiring this safety measure

Damaged Plates
Damaged Plates

What Causes Plate & Frame Heat Exchangers To Leak Externally?

  • Rubber gaskets installed on each plate create a seal, when gaskets become worn or damaged
  • As the PHE ages the gaskets can dry out, lose their elasticity and become brittle
  • Operating temperatures, pressures and exposure to process fluids can all reduce the life of a gasket
  • Spiking or water hammer can force a gasket out of the plate groove
  • Overheating can melt the rubber and cause the gasket to become brittle and crack
  • Over tightening the groove the gasket sits in can become deformed. When this occurs the gasket will not sit flat and pushes outwards, (.4)mm thick gaskets are very susceptible to this issue
  • Plates not installed correctly in a honeycomb pattern

The life span of a gasket in a cooling application is 10-15 years and for a heating application 8-10 years. Gaskets exposed to steam will typically wear quicker than if exposed to boiler water. PHE’s used strictly for seasonal heating will often leak during the first month of startup and seal after a few weeks as the gaskets expand.

  • Extruding Gasket Extruding Gasket

    Extruding Gasket

  • Damaged Gaskets Damaged Gaskets

    Damaged Gaskets

  • Damaged Gaskets Damaged Gaskets

    Damaged Gaskets

  • Damaged Gaskets Damaged Gaskets

    Damaged Gaskets

  • Misaligned Plates Misaligned Plates

    Misaligned Plates

  • Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike

    Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike

  • Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike

    Warped Plates and Extruding Gasket from Pressure Spike

    When plates are installed correctly they will form a honeycomb pattern and if glue-less gaskets such as clip or ball are used, the tabs will be aligned.

    Clip
    Clip
    Ball
    Ball
    Glue No Tabs
    Glue (No tabs)
    Honeycomb Pattern
    Honeycomb Pattern
    Correct
    Correct
    Not Correct
    Not Correct

    Gaskets are designed with venting ports; these ports prevent cross contamination inside the heat exchanger. When a gasket fails, the leak is detected on the outside of the plate pack

    • Leaking PHE Leaking PHE

      Leaking PHE

    • Leaking PHE Leaking PHE

      Leaking PHE

    • Leaking PHE Leaking PHE

      Leaking PHE

    • Gasket Ports Gasket Ports

      Gasket Ports

      WHEN SHOULD A PLATE & FRAME HEAT EXCHANGER BE SERVICED?

      As a heat exchanger becomes fouled with dirt, debris or scale, often the modulating valve provides additional hot or cold liquid to help compensate for the loss of efficiency of the heat exchanger.

      Over time the control valve will continue to open fully. Unfortunately, on the hottest or coldest days, even with the valve fully open the heat exchanger cannot meet the thermal transfer requirements and the situation becomes critical.

      Monitoring just the operating temperature provides a false sense of security. Recording the difference in the outlet and inlet pressures provides a more accurate result of the amount of fouling.

      Fouling equal to the thickness of a piece of paper represents a 20% loss of thermal efficiency. In addition, the energy cost for pumps increases since the pump must work harder to overcome the increased pressure resistance through the PHE

      T.H. Industrial Solutions Inc. (THS) has been servicing industrial plate and frame heat exchangers as with shell and tube heat exchangers.  Professionally solving process problems across Canada since 2009. THS head office is located in Pickering, Ontario with a 6,000 square foot service center in Hamilton, Ontario.

      Today there are fewer qualified people in this industry that know the products and understand the applications. Utilizing hands on experience and knowledge that has been gained by our THS sales and service technicians for over the past 30 years, we will take the time to understand what you require and strive to provide a prompt, educated and accurate response at a competitive price.

      Our Heat Exchanger Cleaning Services, along with heat exchanger gasket replacement systems, and knowledge of heat exchanger gasket materials make THS your Industrial Heat Exchanger Service Solution

      THS Logo
      HEAD OFFICE

      1550 Bayly Street, Unit 15
      Pickering, ON L1W 3W1

      T 905 831-4963

      SERVICE CENTER

      76 Harlowe Road, Unit 5, 6 & 7
      Hamilton, ON L8W 3R6

      T 905 318-0777
      F 905-318-8422

      Contact THS SERVICE


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