Definition and purpose
WHAT ARE PLATE HEAT EXCHANGERS – AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Plate heat exchangers are used to transfer heat between two media, which are separated from each other by corrugated plates. The plate heat exchanger consists of different heat transfer plates, which are sealed by gaskets, or brazed, or welded together.
The heat exchanger’s individual transfer plates are arranged in packages, which form flow channels through which the hot and cold media alternatingly flow. This enables the thermal energy to transfer from one media to the other. It is essential that the two media are securely separated from each other (e.g., by seals) to avoid mixing. Whenever the heat exchanging media flow in opposite directions, as is usually the case, we speak of the countercurrent principle. Otherwise, the flow principle is parallel. Some fully-welded models may also apply the cross-flow principle. Common to all variants is that the special corrugation of the transfer plates ensures a highly turbulent flow behavior.