Knowledge base
A plate heat exchanger is chosen by a short list of facts, and an enquiry that carries them gets a useful answer on the first try. This guide lists those facts, explains why each one matters and shows the decisions that follow, so that the choice of type, material and size comes from the duty and not from habit.
The Fluids
What flows on each side is the first fact: water, a glycol mixture, oil, a process liquid, and how clean it is. The fluids decide the plate and gasket materials, whether a plate exchanger is right at all, and how much protection against fouling is needed. A water analysis, where there is one, is worth sending.
The Duty And The Temperatures
The heat to be moved, the flow on each side and the temperatures in and out define the size. How close the two liquids must come to each other matters especially: the closer they must be, the larger the exchanger. A margin for growth or for fouling is a decision to state openly, because it changes the size and the price.
Pressure, Pressure Drop And Space
The working pressure and temperature of each side decide the type and the construction. The allowed pressure drop is a limit on each side that the design must respect, often set by pumps already in the circuit. And the space available, with the way the unit will be reached for cleaning and service, decides whether a frame, a sealed block or a different arrangement fits.
From Facts To A Choice
Clean, treated fluids and the need to open the unit point to a gasketed exchanger; a closed, clean circuit and the wish for the simplest unit point to a brazed one; aggressive fluids or harsh conditions point to welded construction. The materials follow the fluids, the size follows the duty and the margin, and the arrangement, single or in parallel with a spare, follows how much the plant can afford to stop. TECS Engineering designs and delivers plate heat exchanger solutions for engine, power plant and industrial cooling circuits; send the facts above and the engineering team will answer.
In Short
- The fluids and their cleanliness decide type and materials
- Duty, flows and temperatures decide the size
- The closer the temperatures must come, the larger the unit
- Pressure, pressure drop and space limit the choice
- A margin for growth or fouling is a stated decision
- A spare unit in parallel suits plants that cannot stop
What To Send With An Enquiry
- The fluids on both sides and their cleanliness, with water analysis if available
- Heat duty, flows and temperatures in and out
- Working pressure and temperature on each side
- Allowed pressure drop on each side
- Space, connection arrangement and access for cleaning
- Margin, redundancy and the material specification wanted
Questions We Are Often Asked
What do I need to send to get a plate heat exchanger offer?
The fluids, the heat duty with flows and temperatures, the pressures and the allowed pressure drops, the space and the site conditions.
Why does the approach temperature matter?
The closer the two liquids must come in temperature, the more surface the exchanger needs, and the larger and dearer it becomes.
Should I add a margin?
If the duty may grow or the liquids may foul, yes, but state it openly so that the size and the price reflect it.
When is a spare unit worth it?
When the plant cannot stop while one unit is cleaned or serviced; two units in parallel keep it running.
Who chooses the type and the material?
The facts in the enquiry do: the fluids, the conditions and the cleaning. The engineering team proposes the type and the material that follow from them.
Contact Us
Send us the heat duty, the fluid temperatures and flow rates, the ambient conditions and the installation limits. We answer with a design proposal - or write to us on WhatsApp.
