UPGR KNOWLEDGE · HVAC
Welded plate heat exchangers
Welding joins the plate channels. Plate-and-shell and welded block units use different assemblies, covers and flow arrangements, so their service access and ratings must be checked separately.
Grey lines are separating plates. The dashed arrow shows heat transfer through a plate.
Welded heat exchanger assemblies
The physical inventory depends on whether the exchanger is a welded block or a plate-and-shell unit. Both contain a welded heat-transfer core, but their enclosures and service openings differ.
Welded plate core
Permanently joined plates form the heat-transfer passages. The core is treated as a welded assembly.
Shell or block enclosure
A cylindrical shell and a block enclosure are different structural executions with different access arrangements.
Removable covers or panels, where provided
Their seals and fasteners are separate service items where the design allows removal.
Nozzles and supports
Connections and supporting parts are specified in the equipment assembly drawing.
Plate-and-shell
A welded plate pack sits inside a shell. The heat-transfer surface consists of plates, not a tube bundle. Plate-side and shell-side flow paths and service access depend on the construction. Confirm allowable pressure and temperature for the selected configuration.
Welded block
A welded plate pack sits inside a surrounding frame or enclosure. Removable covers can provide access to the channels while the pack stays welded; access and cleaning depend on the specific design.
Spiral designs
Spiral units use curved channels formed from wound sheets. Welded joints seal the channels; counterflow or crossflow arrangements are chosen for the process.
Serviceable components
For a welded block, establish which panels can be removed and which panel seals and fasteners are replaceable. For a plate-and-shell unit, check whether the shell is fully welded or has a removable cover, and whether the plate core can be extracted. These options are not common to every welded exchanger.
Equipment catalogue
Equipment specifications are compared after the duty, materials, connections and service requirements have been defined.
Plate heat exchanger cataloguePrepare a 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.
Prepare a selection brief