Sizing plate heat exchangers

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States)

OSTI ID:5883610

Kerner, J ^[1]

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1. Alberts and Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (United States)

Since their commercial debut in the 1930s, plate heat exchangers have found widespread use in the chemical process industries (CPI). Today, more than two dozen firms market this space-saving and highly efficient type of heat exchanger. One reason for the popularity of plate heat exchangers is that their overall heat-transfer coefficient (U) is superior to that of shell-and-tube heat exchangers [1,2,3,4]. In clean water-to-water service, for example, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger has a U value of 350 Btu/ft[sup 2]-h-F, much lower than the 1,000 of a plate design at the same pressure drop. However, the plate heat exchanger's much higher U values also mean that fouling factors have a much greater effect on calculations of exchanger surface area. The right fouling factor is the key to specifying plate heat exchanger areas correctly.

• OSTI ID: 5883610
• Journal Information: Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Engineering (New York); (United States) Vol. 100:11; ISSN CHEEA3; ISSN 0009-2460
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY TRANSFER
FOULING
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES