| Finding ways to reduce energy is always a smart | | | | units up to 80 tons, but today can be used for |
| way to cut costs, but with the current cost of | | | | units up to 160 tons. |
| consumption, conserving energy can make a big | | | | Lower Energy Usage; a Powerful Selling Point: |
| impact on the bottom line. With improved | | | | In a highly competitive market, reduced energy |
| technology of heat exchangers, dramatic energy | | | | usage is a big selling point for end users. If the |
| savings are now possible when brazed plate heat | | | | functionality of a product is similar to the |
| exchangers are used in various applications. | | | | competition, benefits like energy usage win |
| What are brazed plate heat exchangers? | | | | customers. The benefit of reduced usage cost |
| Brazed plate heat exchangers aren't a brand of | | | | over time allows manufacturers to charge a |
| heat exchangers, but a style. The two most | | | | higher premium while saving the customer money |
| common types are tube and shell, and plate and | | | | in the long run. |
| frame. The shell and tube heat exchanger design | | | | Benefits: |
| consists of u-shaped heating elements encased in | | | | Brazed plate heat exchangers have a reputation |
| a cylindrical tube. On the other hand, plate and | | | | for reliability which reduces the overall cost of |
| frame heat exchangers are a "sandwich" of heat | | | | maintenance and repair even further. The very |
| conducting plates through which independent | | | | process of the fluid turbulence over the metals |
| circuits push fluids. Brazed plate heat exchangers | | | | has a natural self cleaning effect that eliminates |
| are a type of plate and frame heat exchanger | | | | damage due to build up. Additionally, they are |
| that is brazed in a vacuum furnace to reduce | | | | between 50% and 80% smaller than other |
| leaks. | | | | varieties of heat exchangers. Because of their |
| How They Work: | | | | compact nature, these heat exchangers are not |
| Brazing is the process of melting layers of metals | | | | only energy efficient and cost effective, but also |
| which are used to fuse together close fitting | | | | adaptable for a variety of different uses. |
| plates, thus creating a sandwich of different | | | | Uses: |
| layers. Once the bonding metal cools, the result is | | | | These exchangers are commonly used for |
| an unusually strong component engineered for | | | | refrigeration units, but also ideal for heat pumps, |
| heat transfer. A brazed plate heat exchanger | | | | floor heaters, domestic water heaters, swimming |
| works by conducting unwanted heat through | | | | pool heating, snow melting appliances, and any |
| numerous layers of metal encased in a vacuum | | | | type of fluid to fluid heating unit. There are also |
| furnace and releasing the heat into a permissible | | | | plenty of industrial uses for brazed heat |
| area. | | | | exchangers such as in hydraulic oil coolers, |
| Heat Exchangers Mean Lower Energy Use: | | | | transmission and engine coolers, and in marine and |
| Perhaps the greatest benefit of the exchanger is | | | | seawater applications. |
| its small size and relatively low energy usage. For | | | | The ton capacity of heat exchangers varies from |
| its size, this type of plate heat exchanger has a | | | | manufacturer to manufacturer. Be sure to |
| lot of muscle. The difference with plate and frame | | | | compare the specifications of various terms of |
| heat exchangers is that liquids actually make | | | | productivity and performance. In today's market, |
| contact with the heat conductor unlike with a shell | | | | production of goods with high productivity and low |
| and tube design where liquids can only make | | | | cost of ownership is more crucial than ever and |
| contact with the outer shell. In the past, brazed | | | | engineering products around brazed heat plate |
| plate heat exchangers were used for refrigeration | | | | exchangers is a step toward meeting that goal. |