Plate heat exchangers for Chemical industry
In chemical and pharmaceutical processes, plate heat exchangers handle acids, alkalis and solvents. The gasket-free design moves the resistance limit from the elastomer to the plate material.
Platecore supplies the right design and the suitable material for chemical industry - engineered for the medium, output and operating conditions of your system.
Suitable designs
How duty, temperatures and pressure drop drive the selection is explained in our sizing guide.
Which design suits aggressive chemicals?
The fully welded design, because it does without an elastomer gasket. With acids, alkalis and solvents the gasket is otherwise the weakest link: it sets the temperature and media limits long before the plate material reaches its own.
Which materials are required for acids and alkalis?
Stainless steel 1.4404 (316L) covers a large share of process media. With chloride-bearing media, hydrochloric acid or oxidising acids it is not enough: titanium or nickel-based alloys such as Hastelloy come into play. We never release a material automatically but always after reviewing the specific concentration and temperature.
How is a non-disassemblable unit cleaned in pharmaceutical production?
Chemically and in place via a CIP circuit with alkali, acid and rinse water. The sizing must account for complete drainability, sufficient velocity and the connections for the cleaning circuit. Where mixing of the media has to be ruled out by design, the double wall type is the right choice.
What has to be considered with solvents, steam and thermal oil?
All three exceed the working range of elastomer gaskets: solvents attack them chemically, steam and thermal oil exceed their temperature limit. The welded design works up to 300 degrees Celsius here; saturated steam temperature, condensate removal and, for thermal oil, the strongly temperature-dependent viscosity drive the sizing.
Request a sizing
Describe your application in the configurator - you will receive an individual quote within one business day.
Online sizing