Plate heat exchanger

I. Structural Features of the Equipment:

1. The plate heat exchanger is composed of main components such as heat transfer plates, sealing gaskets, frame, clamping bolts, roller mechanism, and instruments (see the equipment outline installation diagram). It is a type of heat exchanger formed by stacking corrugated heat transfer plates made of high-quality stainless steel, which are pressed into shape in a 10,000-ton oil press. The working fluid flows through the narrow and tortuous channels formed between two plates. Cold and hot fluids pass through the respective flow channels sequentially, separated by a plate through which heat exchange occurs. The four corners of the heat transfer plates are equipped with corner holes, and the plates with attached sealing gaskets are installed on the frame between the fixed and movable clamping plates, secured by clamping bolts.

2. This type of heat exchanger features high heat transfer efficiency, compact footprint, low heat loss, long service life, safe and reliable operation, and ease of disassembly and cleaning.

II. Installation Requirements for the Equipment

1. Before installation, inspect the equipment according to the items listed in the packing list. If any discrepancies are found, notify our company immediately for timely resolution.

2. Reserve maintenance space around the installation location of the heat exchanger. Install the heat exchanger on a concrete foundation using anchor bolts, flat washers, and nuts as per the foundation installation diagram. Ensure the plate heat exchanger remains vertical during installation.

3. Before connecting pipelines, clean the connected pipelines to prevent debris such as sand, oil, or welding slag from entering the heat exchanger, which could block flow channels or damage the plates. To ensure safe and efficient operation, install a filter before the heat exchanger to prevent impurities from entering the equipment. Place sealing gaskets accurately within the flange sealing surfaces at pipeline connections, and install valves of the same diameter at all inlet and outlet ports before connecting to the pipelines.

III. Operating Requirements and Safety Measures for the Equipment

1. Before operation, check if all clamping bolts are loose. If any are loose, tighten them evenly to the dimensions specified in the installation diagram, ensuring the parallelism error between the two pressure plates does not exceed 2 mm.

2. During startup, slowly open the secondary side inlet valve to fill the heat exchanger channels, then slowly open the secondary side outlet valve. After the secondary side has operated for a period, open the primary side outlet valve, followed by the primary side inlet valve. Avoid sudden impacts during startup to prevent damage to the sealing gaskets.

3. Check for leaks at all sealing surfaces and welds. Monitor the parameters displayed on pressure gauges and thermometers, record the data, and promptly identify and address any issues to ensure safe and efficient operation.

4. Before shutdown, stop the pump and cut off the power supply. Then, slowly close the primary side inlet valve, primary side outlet valve, secondary side inlet valve, and secondary side outlet valve in sequence.

5. Operate the equipment within the design temperature and pressure ranges specified for this product. Do not exceed these limits.

IV. Maintenance and Care Requirements for the Equipment

Due to prolonged operation, fouling or deposits may accumulate on the surface of the heat transfer plates, increasing flow resistance and reducing heat transfer performance. This is typically indicated by an increased pressure difference across the inlet and outlet pressure gauges and a decrease in the outlet temperature of the open water side. Therefore, regular inspection and cleaning are necessary.

Specific steps are as follows:

1. Follow the shutdown sequence described above to stop the equipment, then drain the fluid from the heat exchanger.

2. Loosen the clamping bolts evenly and remove them. Move the movable pressure plate toward the support end, tilt the heat transfer plates toward the movable pressure plate, remove them from the upper guide rod hanger, detach the lower end from the lower guide rod, and then take out the heat transfer plates.

3. When cleaning the heat transfer plates, use only copper or fiber brushes. Do not use steel brushes to avoid damaging the plates and reducing corrosion resistance. Take care not to damage the sealing gaskets during cleaning.

4. After cleaning the heat transfer plates, rinse them with clean water and wipe the sealing gaskets with a clean cloth or cotton yarn.

5. Replace aged sealing gaskets. The method for bonding new gaskets is as follows: Remove the aged gaskets, clean the plate grooves of any debris, fix the new gaskets with adhesive, ensure they are straight, and allow them to cure for 24 hours before reassembly and clamping to the specified dimensions.

6. During operation, if bolts become loose or elongate due to prolonged heat exchange, reclamp them as required, but avoid over-tightening to prevent damaging the heat transfer plates. Replace any aged sealing gaskets.

7. When lifting the equipment, the lifting points should be at the marked center of gravity.

8. After the equipment arrives at the installation site, lift it evenly and balanced.