The BR-90 plate-and-frame heat exchanger uses a plate stack tightened with clamping bolts, and its heat transfer surface consists of multiple groups of stamped corrugated plates. Compared with shell-and-tube heat exchangers, under the same heat transfer duty, the plate-and-frame structure occupies less floor space, making compact layout in equipment rooms easier. The plates can be disassembled for mechanical or chemical cleaning, whereas cleaning the tube bundle of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger usually requires special tools and more working space. In HVAC and district heating systems, this feature helps shorten maintenance downtime.
The plate corrugations cause the fluid to form turbulence at low flow velocities, resulting in a relatively high heat transfer coefficient, so the heat transfer area required at the same temperature difference is smaller than that of shell-and-tube solutions. However, the flow channels are narrower, which imposes certain requirements on medium cleanliness, and the pressure drop is usually higher than that of shell-and-tube units. When selecting a model, technical engineers need to make a comprehensive judgment based on the system's allowable pressure drop and the solids content of the medium. For chemical cooling water systems and general industrial liquid heat exchange, if the water quality is filtered and sufficient pressure drop margin is available, the plate-and-frame solution has advantages in energy efficiency and footprint.
Routine inspections require recording inlet and outlet temperatures, pressures, and flow rates every shift, and checking the clamping bolts for looseness every week. Each month, compare the trends of pressure drop and temperature difference; if the pressure drop rises or the temperature difference falls, it indicates that the plates may be scaling or the gasket sealing performance may have changed. Compared with shell-and-tube heat exchangers, the leakage points of plate-and-frame heat exchangers are concentrated at the gaskets between plates, and during maintenance the seal can be restored by replacing the gaskets without replacing the entire tube bundle. During incoming inspection, verify the plate material certificates, gasket material markings, pressure test records, and spare parts list; it is recommended to purchase gaskets with the equipment in a certain proportion for subsequent maintenance and replacement.
This type of heat exchanger is suitable for HVAC, district heating, chemical cooling water systems, and general industrial liquid heat exchange. When selecting a model, parameters such as medium name, design pressure, design temperature, inlet and outlet temperatures, and flow rate must be provided to determine the plate material, gasket material, and number of plates. For media containing particles or prone to crystallization, the risk of channel blockage should be evaluated, and pre-filtration devices should be installed if necessary.
