Asymmetric Plate Heat ExchangersPlate heat exchangers (PHE) consist of a series of thin corrugated
plates hung from a carrying bar and clamped between a
fixed and movable head plate. The corrugated plates or heat
transfer plates are normally stainless steel or other materials ductile
enough to allow pressing. Each heat transfer plate is fitted
with an elastomeric gasket, partly to seal and partly to distribute
the process fluids. Connections in the fixed or movable head
plates permit the entry of the process fluids into the plate pack.
Differentiating a heat transfer plate from a channel is extremely
important and fundamental to the analysis of PHEs. The heat
transfer plate separates the two process fluids; the channel is the
space established by two heat transfer plates, through which
process fluids are distributed and heat transfer is carried out.
Figure 1 details the major components of a PHE. Nomenclature
describing PHEs is not standardized, and alternate names are used
by various manufacturers.