Plate heat exchangers vs. shell and tube designs

Edited by Mike Santora • Managing Editor

For simple non-viscous fluids, the choice of heat exchanger typically comes down to a choice between plate heat exchangers (PHEs) and shell and tube designs. The proponents and manufacturers of both types of heat exchangers make strong cases for the use of each technology and the suitability of each type of heat exchanger, but ultimately the heat transfer situation will determine the best heat exchanger for the role.

There are also several considerations less frequently addressed when evaluating the advantages of shell and tube and plate heat exchangers. It is first important to understand the di erence between the two designs, as this will make it easier to understand the di erences in costs, operational e ciency, and maintenance.

As the name suggests, a plate heat exchanger consists of a series of pressed metal plates separated by gaskets. The service fluid (which provides the heating or cooling e ect) and the product (the material to be heated or cooled) flow through the gaps between alternate plates. In contrast, a shell and tube design features a tube (or series of tubes) running through a shell. The product flows through the tube, and the service fluid through the gap between the tube and the shell.

The advantages of plate heat exchangers include their simplicity and high-heat exchange performance (when used with simple fluids). However, the