UPGR KNOWLEDGE · HVAC

Plate heat exchanger selection

Thermal and hydraulic inputs, operating conditions and equipment identification for a new selection, replacement or spare-parts enquiry.

Prepare a selection brief Compare constructions

Hot stream →← Cold stream

Grey lines are separating plates. The dashed arrow shows heat transfer through a plate.

Conceptual counterflow channel section, not to scale. Other flow arrangements exist; actual paths and port positions depend on the design.

Plate heat exchanger overview

Selection brief

Prepare a specification from the data you know. Review and complete the resulting text before sending it to an engineer. This form does not send the request.

1 · Task and equipment

TaskConstructionApplicationYour equipment designation, if known — unverifiedQuantity units

Heat load and balance of two single-phase streams

Enter the mass flow, constant specific heat capacity and inlet/outlet temperatures for each side. The calculation uses your values; fluid properties are not looked up or assumed.

Single-phase sensible heating/cooling with constant cp and negligible pressure contribution to enthalpy change. Boiling, condensation and other phase changes are outside this model. Heat loss, transient storage and work are not modelled. A load balance does not demonstrate thermal feasibility or select equipment.

State of both streams

Hot side — gives up heat

Mass flow m kg/sConstant specific heat capacity cp kJ/(kg·K)Inlet temperature Tin °COutlet temperature Tout °C

Cold side — receives heat

Mass flow m kg/sConstant specific heat capacity cp kJ/(kg·K)Inlet temperature Tin °COutlet temperature Tout °C

Qhot = mhot × cphot × (Thot,in − Thot,out)

Qcold = mcold × cpcold × (Tcold,out − Tcold,in)

ΔQ = Qhot − Qcold

Difference = |ΔQ| / max(|Qhot|, |Qcold|) × 100%

With mass flow in kg/s and cp in kJ/(kg·K), the loads are in kW.

If both loads are zero, the percentage difference is undefined. Zero temperature changes are allowed.

A cold-side outlet warmer than the hot-side outlet is not rejected: this can occur in counterflow. Feasibility needs a separate assessment.

Review the result, then prepare the local brief below to include it. Editing any input clears the previous result and brief.

This tool does not determine area, plate count, pressure drop, configuration or a suitable model. Full thermal/hydraulic sizing and specialised selection remain separate tasks.

2 · Fluids and operating conditions

Optional; leave blank if unknown

Hot-side fluid / concentrationCold-side fluid / concentrationRequired duty kWHot-side flow m³/hCold-side flow m³/hHot-side working pressure barCold-side working pressure barHot-side allowable pressure drop kPaCold-side allowable pressure drop kPa

Use comments for different limits on each side, design pressure, phase-change conditions and refrigerant.

3 · Equipment identification and additional conditions

Available space / connectionsExisting equipment: manufacturer, model, serial number

For spare parts, list each part code or drawing position and quantity in the notes below.

Conditions, parts, materials and notes

Prepared brief

Information still to confirm

Thermal calculation inputs

For single-phase duty, give the inlet and required outlet temperatures on both sides, plus known flows or heat load. Mark which values are measured, specified or still unknown. A nominal kW value without its operating conditions does not identify a suitable model.

For evaporation or condensation, describe the refrigerant and phase states in the comments. This form does not calculate saturation properties or validate a refrigerant design.

Pressure and pressure drop

The manufacturer confirms the allowable pressure and temperature for each circuit. Include the required design conditions and supporting equipment documents with the selection brief.

Working pressure · bar

The pressure in each circuit during operation. Enter the two sides separately.

Design and rated limits

The manufacturer must confirm the permissible pressure/temperature conditions of each side. Record known design requirements and their source in the comments. The form keeps this confirmation open.

Allowable pressure drop · kPa

The allowed inlet-to-outlet pressure loss at the stated flow. This is a hydraulic allowance, not the pressure strength of the exchanger.

Replacement and spare parts

Use the task selector to distinguish replacing the complete unit from ordering parts. Copy the full nameplate and serial number, identify the plate or gasket reference, quantity, connection layout and changed operating conditions. Mention available photos, drawings and prior selection sheets in the comments; the form does not upload files.

For spare parts, identify each requested item and quantity separately: plates, gaskets, rings, frame or guiding parts, tightening hardware, or connection components. Include the equipment serial number and the relevant part codes or drawing positions in the notes.

Calculation sheet and specification

The engineer checks the inputs and specifies a configuration with thermal and hydraulic results. Review the calculation sheet, dimensional drawing, materials and operating limits before comparing quotations.

Specification and quotation

Define the duty

Prepare both circuits and installation requirements.

Compare the offered configuration

Review model, plate count, materials, pressure losses and the supplier’s selection sheet.

Confirm supply scope

Agree drawing, documentation, quantity and commercial terms before ordering.

Equipment catalogue

Equipment specifications are compared after the duty, materials, connections and service requirements have been defined.

Plate heat exchanger catalogue