How to deal with leaks in plate heat exchangers
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How to deal with leaks in the gaskets of plate heat exchangers? What usually causes it, and how should it be dealt with?
Disassemble it for inspection or replace the gasket; it may be caused by excessive pressure and temperature, or corrosion, etc
Heat exchanger leaks are generally divided into internal leaks and external leaks. Internal leaks occur due to plate corrosion, while external leaks are caused by poor quality of gaskets or insufficient compression. It would be best if you could mention the material of the heat exchanger plates, the material of the gaskets, and what the medium is
Please ask the manufacturer to coordinate a solution by replacing the gasket
Internal leakage is not only due to plate corrosion, but it is also related to the quality of manufacturing and installation of the gaskets, as well as insufficient and uneven compression.
First, it is necessary to determine what medium flows through your heat exchanger. If it is steam, then a high-temperature resistant gasket is required; if it is oil, an oil-resistant gasket is needed. In the case of chemical substances, corrosion must be taken into account. Careful inspection is required during assembly, especially at the secondary sealing points. The clamping dimension is also crucial; it is calculated as (plate thickness + gasket groove depth) multiplied by the number of plates, with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 mm.
1. External leaks are more obvious and easier to handle. 2. In the case of internal leaks, it is necessary to check the gaskets for deformation, sealing issues, and perforations. 3. Check whether the working pressure is excessive and whether it fluctuates significantly.
Disassemble and inspect the plate for corrosion or pitting; pitting can be detected using the light-transmission method
Passing by, learning from a newbie in heat exchange :):lol