Methods and standards for selecting the flow pattern of plate heat exchangers

Thread Content

1. Under normal circumstances, when selecting a process, it is advisable to use a single-pass (fully parallel) configuration, as this makes it easier to disassemble and maintain the equipment during use. To use multiple processes, the same number of flow channels is usually arranged in each process. 2. For cases where the plate configuration is symmetrical and the flow rates of the hot and cold media are equal, an equal-distance arrangement is advisable, so that the flow direction of the media is entirely counter-current, thereby achieving the maximum average temperature difference. 3. When the inter-plate flow velocity is constant, the number of flow channels depends on the flow rate. 4. When the equations on both sides are not equal, countercurrent and concurrent flow will alternate. 5. When there is a significant difference in flow rates between the two sides, the side with the lower flow rate should adopt a multi-pass arrangement to increase the flow velocity and enhance the heat exchange efficiency. 6. The determination of the number of flow channels is influenced by the inter-plate flow velocity, which has a certain range of values; it is also constrained by the allowable pressure drop.