What is a Fully Welded Plate Heat Exchanger?
This is the heavy-duty, “seal it and forget it” option. It’s designed for the most demanding environments where gaskets of any kind are a liability.
Key Advantage: Maximum resistance to temperature, pressure, and corrosive fluids on BOTH sides.
- How it Works:
- All plates are welded together at their contact points and around the edges.
- The entire assembly becomes a single, pressure-tight vessel.
- There is no frame or pressure plate; the welded pack is its own structure.
- When to Choose It:
- Extreme Pressures/Temperatures: Applications in oil & gas, chemical synthesis, or power generation where conditions exceed the limits of other PHE types.
- Highly Corrosive Media on Both Sides: When both fluids would destroy gaskets or brazing material (e.g., strong acids or solvents).
- Where Gasket Failure is Unacceptable: In processes where any potential leak, even an external one, would be a major safety or environmental hazard.