When selecting a model, have you first calculated the pressure drop and heat transfer margin under actual operating conditions, and then checked the compatibility of the plate material and brazing material? The following points are for reference by technical engineers.
Design and selection personnel need to confirm the compatibility of the plate material and brazing material according to the characteristics of the medium. Stainless steel plates and copper-based brazing filler metals are suitable for clean water, oils, and weakly corrosive media; if the medium contains chloride ions or acidic components, the risk of pitting corrosion should be evaluated, and the material scheme should be adjusted if necessary. Selection calculations must use the actual operating conditions of flow rate, inlet and outlet temperatures, and allowable pressure drop as input conditions, and calculate the heat exchange area margin, avoiding ordering based only on estimated area.
Pressure drop calculation should cover both design flow and maximum flow conditions, leaving a reasonable margin. The heat transfer margin is recommended to be controlled within the range of 10% to 20%. Too small a margin can easily lead to outlet temperature failing to meet requirements, while too large a margin increases investment and footprint. During calculation, the fouling factor should also be confirmed, and values should be taken separately for the water side and oil side.
During installation, reserve at least 300 mm of maintenance space to facilitate observation of connections and temperature measurement points. A Y-type strainer is recommended on the water side, and the filtration accuracy on the oil side should be no less than 100 μm to reduce the risk of blockage in the channels between plates. Pipeline connections should avoid forced alignment to prevent the brazed layer from bearing additional stress.
Record baseline values of inlet and outlet temperatures and pressure drop in the initial stage of commissioning, and compare them regularly during operation. When the pressure drop rises significantly, the strainer should be checked and backwashing or chemical cleaning arranged. Cleaning agents must be compatible with stainless steel and brazing materials, and chlorine-containing cleaning liquids should be avoided.
This type of heat exchanger is suitable for hydraulic oil cooling, lubricating oil heat exchange, air conditioning condensation, and general industrial water-to-water heat exchange, etc. For specific selection, please confirm based on medium parameters and installation conditions.
