Why Specify Shell And Plate Exchangers Instead Of Rectangular, Bloc-Type Exchangers?

The SUPERMAX® Shell And Plate Heat Exchanger is worthy of consideration for all duties with fluctuating temperature and pressure vs. bloc-type units. The reason is that welded heat exchangers with square/rectangular plates (the four corner grid design) suffer from thermal and pressure fatigue due to the weak corner welds. These welds often fail in dynamic processes, resulting in unexpected shutdown and maintenance. Here’s why:

  • Maximum stress occurs at the circumferential welds around the port holes and the outer perimeter of plates
  • Cracks leading to failure originate at stress amplification locations
  • Circular plates have better fatigue resistance than rectangular plates
  • For cycling processes with fluctuations in temperature and pressure, the circular plate pack construction of the shell and plate heat exchanger is a better choice for life-cycle and uptime considerations

Shell and plate exchangers have a record of excellent performance in both stable and dynamic processes since their introduction more than a decade ago.

Learn more about these issues by reading this technical article.

Corners of bloc-type plate packs (left) are common failure points. The round, cylindrical plate pack of the SUPERMAX® Shell And Plate exchanger distributes stress around the entire perimeter.
Standard and removable core SUPERMAX® Shell And Plate Heat Exchangers.