Heat ExchangersDOE-HDBK-1018/1-93TYPES OF HEAT EXCHANGERSPlateFigure 1 Tube and Shell Heat ExchangerA plate type heat exchanger, as illustrated in Figure 2, consists of plates instead of tubesto separate the hot and cold fluids. The hot and cold fluids alternate between each of theplates. Baffles direct the flow of fluid between plates. Because each of the plates hasa very large surface area, the plates provide each of the fluids with an extremely largeheat transfer area. Therefore a plate type heat exchanger, as compared to a similarlysized tube and shell heat exchanger, is capable of transferring much more heat. This isdue to the larger area the plates provide over tubes. Due to the high heat transferefficiency of the plates, plate type heat exchangers are usually very small when comparedto a tube and shell type heat exchanger with the same heat transfer capacity. Plate typeheat exchangers are not widely used because of the inability to reliably seal the largegaskets between each of the plates. Because of this problem, plate type heat exchangershave only been used in small, low pressure applications such as on oil coolers forengines. However, new improvements in gasket design and overall heat exchangerdesign have allowed some large scale applications of the plate type heat exchanger. Asolder facilities are upgraded or newly designed facilities are built, large plate type heatexchangers are replacing tube and shell heat exchangers and becoming more common. Rev. 0ME-02Page 3
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