| I. Sealing & Construction |
| Sealing Method |
Elastomer Gaskets (e.g., NBR, EPDM, Viton) |
Copper or Nickel Brazing (Permanent) |
Laser or TIG Welding (Permanent, high integrity) |
| Configuration |
Plate and Frame (Bolt-on structure) |
Compact, monolithic block |
Plate pack inside a Shell (Hybrid) |
| Maintainability |
Fully Dismantlable. Easy to clean, inspect, and expand capacity. |
Non-Dismantlable. Requires chemical cleaning; cannot be repaired internally. |
Partially or Fully Accessible. |
| II. Operational Envelope |
| Max Design Pressure |
Low to Moderate: Up to 25 bar (Typically 10−16 bar) |
High: Up to 45 bar |
Very High: Up to 100 bar (Shell side) |
| Max Design Temperature |
Low to Moderate: Up to 180°C (Limited by Gasket material) |
High: Up to 225°C |
Very High: Up to 400°C (Not limited by elastomer gaskets) |
| Fluid Types |
Non-aggressive fluids, HVAC, food/beverage, utilities (water, steam) |
Clean, non-fouling fluids (e.g., refrigeration, domestic hot water) |
Highly aggressive or hazardous fluids (e.g., ammonia, strong acids) |
| Capacity Flexibility |
Modular: Capacity can be changed by adding/removing plates. |
Fixed capacity. |
Fixed capacity (Welded); Modular on the gasketed side (Semi-Welded). |
| III. Plate & Material Specs |
| Plate Material |
AISI 316L, Titanium (Ti), Alloy 254 SMO, Hastelloy |
AISI 316L (Brazed with Copper/Nickel) |
AISI 316L, Titanium, or specialized alloys |
| Plate Thickness |
0.4 to 0.8 mm |
0.25 to 0.4 mm (Very thin for compactness) |
0.6 to 1.2 mm (Thicker for stability/pressure) |
| Heat Transfer Coefficient (U) |
3,000 to 7,000 W/m²·K |
4,000 to 10,000 W/m²·K |
3,500 to 8,000 W/m²·K |