The plate type exchangers have a specialized design well suited for transferring heat between medium- and low-pressure fluids. Welded, semi-welded, and brazed heat exchangers are used for heat exchange between high-pressure fluids or where a more compact product is required.
In these exchangers, the media can be heated, cooled or condensed, in a closed space. Plate-type heat exchangers can be used for different applications and in a variety of designs. Several forms of plate heat exchangers are available. These essentially consist of standard plates which serve as heat transfer surfaces, Showing in the Figure below. Plates are provided with grooves for rubber gaskets. A number of such plates are supported on a frame and assembled in such a way that the plates can be separated individually for cleaning or replacing. A corrugated plate design is also used to impart rigidity to the plate. In place of a pipe passing through a chamber, there are instead two alternating chambers, usually thin in-depth, separated at their largest surface by a corrugated metal plate. The plates used in a plate and frame heat exchanger are obtained by the one-piece pressing of metal plates. Stainless steel is a commonly used metal for plates due to its ability to withstand high temperatures, its strength, and its corrosion resistance.
Make sure Check our Amazing article on: Liquid to Liquid Interchanger