Why Are Compact Plate HEs Such A Good Choice For Retrofits?
Many facilities have been built using shell and tube heat exchangers. When time for expansion comes, whether involving HVAC or process thermal systems, sizing and installing a larger shell and tube exchanger is expensive or impossible because the larger unit:
- Causes impossible-to-resolve piping conflicts with existing systems
- Exceeds the load capacity of support structures
- Has an impossibly large footprint for the available space
- Would require disconnection and complete removal to pull and clean the tube bundle
When it’s expansion time, and your design team talks about space conflict problems connected with thermal systems, remember Tranter Plate Heat Exchangers. Our compact SUPERCHANGER® Plate And Frame and SUPERMAX® Shell And Plate Heat Exchangers have replaced countless shell and tube exchangers in retrofit or expansion projects where footprint conflicts were difficult or impossible.
Plate And Frame–Orders Of Magnitude More Compact
Tranter has an answer for virually all applications served by shell and tube exchangers. For low temperature and pressure applications, the SUPERCHANGER Plate And Frame Exchanger is the choice. These units can pack greater than 22,000 ft2 (2,044 m2) of super-efficient heat transfer surface in a single unit with flow rates up to 25,400 gpm (5,768 m3/hr). They use only 10-50% of the space required by shell and tube units and are much lighter in weight. And, they cost less.
SUPERCHANGER Plate And Frame Heat Exchangers can be designed for less than 2°F (1°C) temperature approach (compare that with a greater than a 5°F to 10°F temperature approach for shell and tube exchangers). The plate and frame unit opens for access within its own footprint, while the shell and tube requires twice its own footprint to pull the tube bundle. Plus, the surrounding area is much more worker-friendly—there is practically no heat loss, and no insulation is required.
Shell And Plate—The Choice For High Temperature And Pressure Applications
The SUPERMAX Shell And Plate Heat Exchanger is designed for pressures to 200 barg (2900 psig) and at temperatures up to 900°C (1650°F) for standard range units. Extended range units are available for higher temperature and pressure applications.
Compare the SUPERMAX and the shell and tube units in the scale drawing. They have identical heat exchange ratings. The SUPERMAX Model SPW-55 has a 24-in. diameter shell and a 3-ft length, with a 300-plate plate pack. The shell and tube has an 18-in. diameter shell and a 22-ft length. The significantly higher heat transfer rates of the SUPERMAX plates versus the tube bundle are responsible for the striking difference.
The implications are clear: less cost for materials (stainless steel, titanium or other expensive higher alloys), simpler fabrication for shorter delivery lead times, easier installation, simpler support structures and vastly smaller footprints, especially considering dead space required to pull the shell and tube exchanger’s tube bundle for cleaning.
