Features and differences between plate coolers and tubular coolers

Features and differences between plate coolers and tubular coolers

Coolers are widely used in industrial production and life, there are mainly two types of plate and tube coolers, so what is the difference between these two types of coolers? What are the characteristics of each? Here we take a look

1. Introduction to plate heat exchanger

 Plate heat exchanger is a series of metal sheets with a certain corrugated shape stacked into a new type of high-efficiency heat exchanger. A variety of plates between the formation of thin rectangular channel, through the half of the piece for heat exchange. It is compared with the conventional shell and tube heat exchanger, in the same flow resistance and pump power consumption, its heat transfer coefficient is much higher, in the applicable range there is a trend to replace the shell and tube heat exchanger. Plate heat exchanger is a thin metal plate pressed into a certain corrugated shape of the heat exchanger plate, and then stacked, with a clipboard, bolts fastened to a heat exchanger. The working fluid flows through the narrow and tortuous channel formed between the two plates. The hot and cold fluids pass through the flow channel in turn, with a compartmentalised plate in the middle to separate the fluids, and heat exchange through this plate. The structure and heat exchange principle of the plate heat exchanger determines its compact structure, small footprint, high heat transfer efficiency, operational flexibility, wide range of applications, small heat loss, easy installation and cleaning. The average temperature difference between the two media can be as small as 1°C, and the heat recovery efficiency can be more than 99%. In the case of the same pressure loss, the heat transfer of the plate heat exchanger is 3 to 5 times that of the tubular heat exchanger, covering an area of 1/3 of its metal consumption of only 2/3.

2. Introduction to tubular heat exchangers

The tube cooler is composed of two major parts: the external shell and the internal cooling body. Due to the specific structure of different ways, from the external connection form is divided into pipe thread type and flange type; from the installation form is divided into horizontal and vertical; from the floating form is divided into floating disk type and floating head type; from the cooling tube structure is divided into spiral tube type and finned tube type; from the structure of the folded flow is divided into bow-shaped folded flow plate, rectangular folded flow plate, double weir-shaped folded flow plate and round folded flow plate and other structural forms, are selected according to specific conditions.

      The external casing includes: the cylinder, the water divider and the water return cover. It is equipped with oil inlet and outlet pipes and water inlet and outlet pipes, as well as oil discharge, drainage and exhaust plugs, zinc rod installation holes and thermometer interfaces.

      The cooling body consists of a cooling tube, a fixed hole plate, a moving hole plate, a folding plate and so on. The two ends of the cooling tube are connected to the fixed and dynamic orifice discs; the fixed orifice disc is flanged to the outer body and the dynamic orifice disc is free to expand and contract within the outer body to eliminate the influence of temperature on the cooling tube due to thermal expansion and contraction. Folded plate to strengthen the heat transfer and support the role of the cooling tube.

       The hot medium of the tube cooler is inlet from the receiver on the barrel and flows in a zigzag manner to the receiver outlet through the various folded flow channels in sequence. The cooling medium is flowing in a double pipe process, i.e. the cooling medium enters half of the cooling tube from the water inlet through the water divider cover, and then flows into the other half of the cooling tube from the water return cover into the other side of the water divider cover and the outlet pipe. The cold medium in the double pipe laminar flow process, absorbing the waste heat released by the hot medium is discharged from the water outlet, so that the working medium to maintain the rated working temperature.

3. Comprehensive comparison of the two

The tube cooler has a wider cross-section than the plate cooler and requires less water for cooling.

The tube cooler has fewer internal seals and the high temperature has less impact on the cooler.

The tube cooler mechanism allows it to withstand higher pressures (both of the cooling medium and the medium being cooled).

The tube cooler has a low cooling efficiency, so it has a large footprint, heavy mass and high price compared to a plate cooler with the same cooling effect.

Tube coolers have many internal pipelines, so it is not easy to find leaks, and it is difficult to clean up the dirt.

The plate cooler has high water quality requirements due to the narrow cross-section of the overflow.

As the plate cooler requires a seal between the plates, the high temperature will reduce the service life of the seal, and the replacement process is more complicated, so the plate cooler requires a higher temperature for the use of the environment.

The plate structure has a low pressure capacity compared to the tube type and cannot be used in higher pressure environments.

The plate cooler is easy to clean after disassembly and plate damage is easy to find the problem and replace.

A further advantage of the plate structure is that the cooling capacity of the cooler can be changed by adding more plates, whereas the tube structure can only be changed by replacing the entire unit with a new one.

The normal service life of both is relatively long if the requirements are met, with both guaranteed for more than 10 years. Tube coolers are not easy to break down but also not easy to repair, while plate coolers are easy to break down but also easy to repair.

Vrcooler specialises in the production, sale and installation of all kinds of coolers, including: air coolers, tubular coolers, plate coolers, etc. Welcome to consult via email info@cstheatexchanger.com