The shell-and-tube design, which had a heat exchanger, where the media moved towards each other through the tubes, is a thing of the past. This rather bulky device functioned quite efficiently, but it was not able to boast an impressive flow of heated medium. He was replaced by new units, which are plate high-speed heat exchangers.
general description
If you decide to equip domestic hot water, a plate heat exchanger will help you with this. Structurally, new units differ from the shell and tube predecessors. The area of the base of exchange and thermal energy in the latter has become larger due to an increase in the size of the coil, this has led to more impressive dimensions of the device. In the new heat exchanger, this goal is achieved by increasing the number of plates of the same area. The design has the same power, but its size is 3 times smaller compared to the shell-and-tube analogue. In this case, the device is able to provide a greater flow rate of the heated medium. This includes water that is consumed for the needs of hot water. This is what led to the emergence of the second name of the device, which sounds like high-speed. When installing a hot water supply, a plate heat exchanger must be used. If we are talking about the simplest design, then it will have nozzles that are located on two different sides of the device. Between the plates, which are on two rails, you can see a number of plates, between them is a rubber seal. In order to increase the exchange surface, there is a relief corrugation on each plate. It is noteworthy that the connecting pipes can also be located on the front plate on one side of the unit, however this does not have any effect on the principle of operation of the heat exchanger.
Principle of operation
If you will be working on the installation of hot water, you will definitely need a plate heat exchanger. The principle of its operation is that the coolant gradually fills the space between the plates. This happens in turn with the heated medium. The shape of the gaskets determines the order in which they are filled, in one section they provide the flow path of the coolant, while in the other they provide the heat sink. The exchange of heat through the plates on both sides occurs during operation in each section, excluding the last first. Both media flow through the sections towards each other, as for the heating, it enters from above, and then leaves through the lower pipe. If we are talking about a heated medium, then its path is directed in the opposite direction.
Key Specifications
If you decide to equip domestic hot water, a plate heat exchanger will be absolutely necessary for you. Gaskets and plates can be made of a variety of materials, their choice will depend on the purpose of the device, since the scope of use of such heat exchangers is very wide. This article discusses hot water supply and heating systems, where they act as heat-power equipment. If the plates are used for this sphere, then they are made of stainless steel, while the base of the gaskets is NBR or EPDM rubber. The first case concerns a stainless steel heat exchanger, which is able to function with a heat carrier heated to 110 degrees. If we are talking about the second case, then the water may be heated to 170 degrees.
For reference
These heat exchangers are used for various technological processes, in which case alkalis, acids, oils and other media flow through them. In this case, the plates are made of nickel, titanium and all kinds of alloys, as for gaskets, asbestos, fluororubber and other materials are the basis.
Consumer reviews on the choice and calculation of the heat exchanger
The DHW plate heat exchanger must be selected and calculated using software. According to users, some basic parameters must be taken into account, among them the initial temperature of the water, the flow rate of the coolant, the required temperature of the heating fluid, and the flow rate of the heated medium. Water can play the role of a heating medium that will flow through a plate heat exchanger designed for hot water supply systems; its temperature reaches 95 or 115 degrees. If we are talking about a pair, then its temperature reaches 180 degrees. This will depend on the type of boiler equipment used. Users emphasize that the size and number of plates must be selected so that the water at the outlet reaches a maximum temperature of 70 degrees or less.
Reviews of some of the benefits of a plate-type heat exchanger
According to consumers, a plate heat exchanger for domestic hot water has many advantages. This is expressed not only in the ability to provide an impressive expense, but also in a fairly modest amount. Among other things, the range of selected areas of exchange and flow rate of the described unit is very wide. The smallest have a surface area of one square meter or more, they are designed for the flow of 0.2 cubic meters of liquid for 1 hour. The largest domestic hot water plate heat exchanger has a surface area of 2000 square meters, while the flow rate is 3600 cubic meters per hour.
Reviews of heat exchanger units
Consumers emphasize that the described units can be of the following types. It is necessary to highlight collapsible, which are the most common, they allow you to efficiently and quickly carry out maintenance and repair of high-speed heat exchanger. Home craftsmen distinguish welded and soldered devices, they do not have rubber gaskets, and the plates are rigidly connected to each other, they are placed in a one-piece case during the manufacturing process. If you choose a plate heat exchanger for the hot water supply of a private house, then, according to the craftsmen, you should prefer a brazed heat exchanger, which can be adapted for heating and cooling water.
Heat exchanger piping reviews
If you prefer a plate heat exchanger of hot water "Ridan", then you can install it using the same technology that is used for other similar units. Most often, the installation of such heat-power equipment involves the presence of an individual boiler room, which is located in an apartment building. We can talk about industrial enterprises, as well as about the heating points of centralized heating systems. The main goal, according to the masters, is to obtain a coolant for the needs of hot water supply, while the water temperature will not exceed 70 degrees. If high-temperature and steam boilers will be operated, the temperature of the coolant should be equal to 95 degrees or less. Since the heat exchanger has a small weight and size, according to users, it is quite simple to install it, but powerful units include a foundation.
Be that as it may, the foundation pillars should be filled, with their help the apparatus can be reliably strengthened in place. The coolant must be connected to the upper pipe, and the return pipe must be connected to the fitting, which is located under it. Masters advise to supply the heated coolant to the lower nozzle, the water output will be through the upper.
The water supply circuit must have a circulation pump, which is located on the supply pipe. If you follow the rules of installation, then in addition to the pump should be parallel equipment that has the same power.
Cost
If you need a hot water plate heat exchanger, the price of which can vary from 12,000 to 25,000 rubles, then you should first familiarize yourself with the installation technology. Only after that, experts recommend proceeding to the selection of a specific device model. Only in this way can you make the right choice of a device that will work with a high level of efficiency.