Plate Heat Exchangers – What, Where, Why, When, Who!
What are Plate Heat Exchangers? Where and why are they used? When do they need to be serviced? And who provides quality services and equipment? Find out below!
WHAT are Plate Heat Exchangers?
A Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) is a system engineered to allow heat to transfer between two fluids. These fluids can be in the form of a liquid or gas that are hot or cold in temperature. The careful design of the PHE allows these fluids to pass through separate channels without actually coming into contact with each other, or the heat itself.
PHEs are constructed using gaskets, corrugated metal, and alloys. The corrugated metal helps make PHEs an efficient and effective way of transferring heat. Here’s an example of what a PHE can look like:
PHEs come in various types and designs, with Thornhill Australia providing the following:
- Semi Welded
- All Welded
- Plate and Shell
- Sanitary
- Brazed Plate
- Gasketed Plate and Frame
Chat with us to learn more about the different types available, and to determine which PHE will best suit your needs.
WHERE and WHY are Plate Heat Exchangers used?
For over 30 years, Thornhill Australia continues to proudly serve a wide-range of industries across Australia that rely on PHEs as a vital piece of their operating equipment. PHEs help industries to function safely and efficiently. These industries can include food and beverage, dairy, brewing, health, public utilities, HVAC, power, chemical, marines, pulp and paper, mining, oil and gas, abattoirs, and hydro.
Here’s some examples of how industries use PHEs:
- A brewery can use a PHE during the wort and fermentation process of making beer.
- A dairy can use a PHE for the pasteurisation process of raw milk. With raw milk passing through one channel of the PHE, and hot water passing through the other channel, any pathogens in the raw milk can be eliminated during this process.
- A mining company can use a PHE for temperature regulation in hydrometallurgical processes, and for water circuits that are used to help keep equipment lubrication systems from overheating.
WHEN do Plate Heat Exchangers need servicing?
Just like cars that need regular servicing, so do PHEs to help keep them operating efficiently. Some types of heat exchangers last longer than others. It depends on the design, the application, and the materials involved. However, every heat exchanger will wear out eventually, and maintenance, repair or replacement will be required.
The main culprits of wear and tear on PHEs are fouling, erosion, and corrosion which will reduce the performance of the heat exchanger. PHEs should be serviced every 6 months to 4 years, depending on their environment, with regular maintenance also helping to prevent emergency repairs which could cause costly and unplanned downtime.
WHO can provide quality Plate Heat Exchangers?
As a company who values customers first and foremost, Thornhill Australia is a leader in the Australian Plate Heat Exchanger industry who provides customers with quality PHEs in design and build, services, testing, and equipment and parts.
Our fully equipped service departments and factory trained technicians are accessible to you from both our Victorian and Queensland Service Facilities, and we are ISO9001, 14001, and 45001 certified.
We’d love to assist you with your Plate Heat Exchanger needs! Contact us and one of our friendly team members will be in touch to talk you through the process.
Contact our Team:
Melbourne Office: (03) 9310 4800
Brisbane Office: (07) 3807 4844
Email: sales@tapl.com.au
