If the inlet-outlet temperature difference of the heat exchanger is found on site to be noticeably smaller than at initial commissioning, first compare the current flow and pressure against the design parameters. When flow is below the design value, heat transfer efficiency will decrease; check the pipeline valve opening and whether the filter is clogged.
Gasket leakage is mostly related to material selection or installation practices. For water-to-water duty, nitrile rubber gaskets can be used; when the medium temperature is higher or contains corrosive components, EPDM rubber offers better temperature and corrosion resistance. During disassembly and reassembly, residual material in the gasket groove or uneven compression dimensions can also easily cause leakage; clean the groove and tighten evenly in a diagonal sequence.
Record the three parameters of inlet and outlet temperature, pressure, and flow each shift, and compare them with the design values. When deviations exceed the set range, promptly investigate clogging, scaling, or internal leakage to avoid sustained parameter deviation affecting heat transfer performance.
Material selection directly affects equipment life and maintenance cycles. Select suitable plate materials according to the corrosiveness of the medium, and regularly check the plate surfaces for pitting or cracks, which helps reduce unplanned downtime.
