Advantages vs. Shell-and-Tube Exchangers
| Feature | Plate Heat Exchanger | Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger |
| Efficiency | Very High (Turbulent flow, thin plates) | Moderate (Mostly laminar flow, thicker tube walls) |
| Size & Weight | Compact (Small footprint for its capacity) | Large and Bulky |
| Cost | Lower cost for a given duty | Often higher cost for same capacity |
| Maintenance | Easy to clean and service (Gasketed type) | Difficult to clean (tube brushing required) |
| Flexibility | Capacity can be easily altered by adding/removing plates | Fixed capacity |
| Pressure Drop | Higher (due to turbulence) | Lower |
| Operating Pressure | Lower (Limited by gaskets) | Very High |
| Leak Risk | External leak (gasket failure) | Internal leak (tube rupture) harder to detect |