| Advantages Very compact design High heat transfer coefficients (2 – 4 times shell & tube designs) Expandable by adding plates Ease of maintenance Plates manufactured in many alloys All connections are at one end of the exchanger Good temperature approaches Fluid residence time is very short No dead spots Leakage (if it should occur) is generally to the outside – not between the fluids Low fouling due to high turbulence Typical Applications Low pressure and temperature single phase heating and cooling when fluids are not hazardous, a high-pressure drop can be tolerated and alloys are required for the fluids being handled |
