Plate n heat exchanger

A plate-n heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger

design that uses plates and nned chambers to transfer
heat between uids. It is often categorized as a compact
heat exchanger to emphasise its relatively high heat trans-
fer surface area to volume ratio. The plate-n heat ex-
changer is widely used in many industries, including the
aerospace industry for its compact size and lightweight
properties, as well as in cryogenics where its ability to fa-
cilitate heat transfer with small temperature dierences
is utilized.[1]
Aluminum alloy plate n heat exchangers, often referred
to as Brazed Aluminum Heat Exchangers, have been
used in the aircraft industry for more than 60 years and
adopted into the cryogenic air separation industry around
the time of the second world war and shortly afterwards
into cryogenic processes in chemical plants such as Natu- Principal Components of a Plate Fin Heat Exchanger
ral Gas Processing. They are also used in railway engines
and motor cars. Stainless steel plate ns have been used
in aircraft for 30 years and are now becoming established
in chemical plant. late and design plate n heat exchangers.
The main four type of ns are: plain, which refer to sim-
ple straight-nned triangular or rectangular designs; her-
1 Design of plate-n heat exchang- ringbone, where the ns are placed sideways to provide a
zig-zag path; and serrated and perforated which refer to
ers cuts and perforations in the ns to augment ow distribu-
tion and improve heat transfer.
Originally conceived by an Italian mechanic, Paolo Frun-
cillo. A plate-n heat exchanger is made of layers of cor-
rugated sheets separated by at metal plates, typically alu-
minium, to create a series of nned chambers. Separate
hot and cold uid streams ow through alternating layers
of the heat exchanger and are enclosed at the edges by
side bars.
Heat is transferred from one stream through the n in-
terface to the separator plate and through the next set of
ns into the adjacent uid. The ns also serve to increase
the structural integrity of the heat exchanger and allow it
to withstand high pressures while providing an extended
surface area for heat transfer.
A high degree of exibility is present in plate-n heat ex-
changer design as they can operate with any combination Dierent Fin Structures for Plate Fin Heat Exchangers
of gas, liquid, and two-phase uids.[2] Heat transfer be-
tween multiple process streams is also accommodated,[3]
with a variety of n heights and types as dierent entry A disadvantage of plate-n heat exchangers is that they
and exit points available for each stream. are prone to fouling due to their small ow channels. They
Specic software is also available from various vendors, also cannot be mechanically cleaned and require other
including the ProSec software for plate n heat exchang- cleaning procedures and proper ltration for operation
ers which was developed by ProSim in France, to simu- with potentially-fouling streams.

1
2 5 REFERENCES

2 Flow arrangement Coulson, J. and Richardson, J (1999). Chemical

Engineering- Fluid Flow. Heat Transfer and Mass
In a plate-n heat exchanger, the ns are easily able to Transfer- Volume 1; Reed Educational & Professional
be rearranged. This allows for the two uids to result in Publishing LTD
crossow, counterow, cross-counterow or parallel ow.
If the ns are designed well, the plate-n heat exchanger
can work in perfect countercurrent arrangement.[4]

3 Cost
The cost of plate-n heat exchangers is generally higher
than conventional heat exchangers due to a higher level of
detail required during manufacture. However, these costs
can often be outweighed by the cost saving produced by
the added heat transfer.
Plate-n heat exchangers are generally applied in indus-
tries where the uids have little chances of fouling. The
delicate design as well as the thin channels in the plate-n
heat exchanger make cleaning dicult or impossible.
Applications of plate-n heat exchangers include:

Natural gas liquefaction

Cryogenic air separation

Ammonia production

Oshore processing

Nuclear engineering

Syngas production

Aircraft cooling of bleed air and cabin air

4 See also
Plate heat exchanger

Shell and tube heat exchanger

Heat transfer

LMTD

5 References
[1] Taborek, J., Hewitt, G.F. and Afgan, N. (1983). Heat Ex-
changers: Theory and Practice. Hemisphere Publishing
Corporation. ISBN 0-07-062806-8.

[2] Lytron Total Thermal Solutions

[3] The Standards of the Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat

Exchanger Manufacturers Association

[4] Heat exchanger design handbook

 3

6 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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