During on-site inspections, a common issue is that slight leaks in the sealing gaskets between the plates of plate-shell heat exchangers are difficult to detect. The following points can serve as a reference.
During operation, it is recommended to check the sealing gaskets between plates for signs of leakage every shift, with particular attention to operating conditions where the medium temperature approaches the upper temperature limit of the gaskets. If leakage is found, it should be recorded promptly and a shutdown inspection arranged to prevent the leak from expanding.
Medium temperature, pressure, and corrosiveness directly determine the plate material, gasket material, and flow channel combination. During selection, the design parameters and material adaptability must be verified to ensure that the operating conditions are within the allowable range.
The BRQ-180 plate-shell heat exchanger can be equipped with a fully welded plate bundle structure, which has no gasket design and can be applied to operating conditions with a temperature range extending below 400°C and a design pressure not exceeding 4.0 MPa. During inspection, it is necessary to confirm that the actual operating parameters do not exceed these boundaries to avoid damage to the plate bundle caused by excessive temperature or pressure.
Regularly record inlet and outlet temperature, pressure, and flow data, compare with historical trends, and promptly identify signs of scaling or blockage. When parameters are abnormal, combine with inspection findings to determine whether cleaning or maintenance is needed.
