Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers:
- These are the most common type, using gaskets to seal the plates and prevent leakage.
- They offer easy maintenance and the ability to add or remove plates for capacity adjustments.
- They are widely used in various industries, including food processing, HVAC, and general industrial applications.
2. Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers:
- In brazed PHEs, the plates are joined together using a brazing material, typically copper.
- They are compact, highly efficient, and offer excellent resistance to corrosion and erosion.
- They are commonly used in HVAC systems, refrigeration, and other applications where space and efficiency are crucial.
3. Welded Plate Heat Exchangers:
- Welded PHEs have the plates welded together, offering high durability and resistance to high temperatures and corrosive fluids.
- Cleaning is difficult due to the welded construction.
- They are suitable for demanding applications like chemical processing and power generation.
4. Semi-Welded Plate Heat Exchangers:
- These combine features of both gasketed and welded PHEs.
- One side of the plate pack is welded, while the other is gasketed, allowing for a mix of high-pressure and easily maintained sections within the same unit.
5. Plate-and-Frame Heat Exchangers:
- This is another term for gasketed plate heat exchangers, emphasizing the frame structure that holds the plates together.
- They are used for heat transfer between low to medium pressure fluids.