PHE Plate Thickness 1

[steamdog]

Is there a standard for plate thickness on a P&F heat exchanger? I have one rated at 350 psig design pressure that has 0.5mm 304SS plates. I have heard that for this pressure the plates should be a minimum of 0.6mm, but could find no verification.

 

[speco]

Steamdog,

I understand that the standard plate thickness varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. I would say that .6 mm is the more common thickness. What surprises me is that you exchanger is designed for 350 PSIG. I've never heard of one over 300 PSIG. I would guess that about 98% of all PHEs have design pressures of 150 PSIG or less.

Speco

 

[steamdog]

This is a high rise building application with the corresponding large head of liquid. The design is 350 with the hydrotest at 455.

 

[rmw]

In the good old days PHE's lived by the 300/300 rule meaning that you could have 300 degF or 300 PSIG but not both at the same time.

I notice that today manufacturers seem to have raised the upper limit on pressure. Temperature is largely driven by the gasket material.

To answer your question, either plate thickness is common, but for higher pressure I would prefer the thicker plate. Some of my decision would depend on the pressure on the other side of the plate and the consistency of this pressure. If the pressure is fairly equal on each side of the plate and would mostly remain so, I would go with the thinner plate.

The plate thickness also has to do with the heat transfer characteristics and one silly millimeter might well throw the Hx into a larger frame.

There is a lot to be considered and not an awful lot of info to go in to offer you any better tips.

rmw