Flat Plate Heat Exchangers - Differences?

[in hot water]

It's hard to know exactly WHAT you are getting with a no-name import. The gauge, type, quality of the stainless. Is it crimped, bolted or brazed together. Any listings or certifications, etc.

It would be very hard to determine quality by looking at an ad on the internet. Even seeing one in person, unless you have background in HX technology you would be hard pressed to pick a quality one from a knock off.

When I visited wholesalers in Europe they had benches in the back with stacks of plates. They assembled the HX to your exact spec. Size of plates, how many, type of connections. Most were bolt together type, some were crimp.

Flat Plate is now owned by a German company and they do have some less expensive options due to larger production facilities. I believe B&G still makes their HX in Western NY. Alfa Laval has a good reasonably priced plate HX. They supply the dairy industry and are fairly well known. Swep is another big name.

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[headrc]

This is the type of input I am needing ..... regarding quality. I have been examining the specs and sizes of plates etc ...as well as trying to understand the manufacturing end of it ....but grass roots references are what I am looking for. Except for the fact that my AIC is now fouled and the installer did not put a flushing mechanism in place ....I have been happy with its quality. However ... I think the increase in plates would help me with better heat transfer and it is the reason I am interested in the different manufacturers etc. I mean ...are FlatPlate worth the extra $$ ....do they last longer? Transfer heat better? I am willing to pay more if there is a reason to ....

 

[jebatty]

I'm familiar with an installation of a 10 x 20 x 90 GEA plate hx serving a Garn WHS3200, now in use for its 3rd heating season: transfer rate > 500,000 btuh, approach temp 7F, 75 gpm calculated Sides A and B, pressure drops Sides A and B 3.4 psi, 2" ports. I didn't spec this, and some erroneous information was provided that was used to spec the hx, but fortunately when corrected information became available after the install the hx was somewhat over-sized and performs to meet system btuh output and transfer requirements.

My point, once again, is that although shooting from the hip may work, having correct information and proper sizing is key to achieving the desired performance outcome.

 

[heaterman]

This is the type of input I am needing ..... regarding quality. I have been examining the specs and sizes of plates etc ...as well as trying to understand the manufacturing end of it ....but grass roots references are what I am looking for. Except for the fact that my AIC is now fouled and the installer did not put a flushing mechanism in place ....I have been happy with its quality. However ... I think the increase in plates would help me with better heat transfer and it is the reason I am interested in the different manufacturers etc. I mean ...are FlatPlate worth the extra $$ ....do they last longer? Transfer heat better? I am willing to pay more if there is a reason to ....

Any plate type heat exchanger can and will foul eventually. The trick is setting up your piping in such a way that routine cleaning can be accomplished with minimal testing of ones Christian vocabulary.

The brand matters little if maintenance is not performed regularly.

 

[headrc]

Yes I know on the cleaning ...NOW! The gentleman who did the original plumbing did not pay attention to information that I had at the time (Sieganthlaer's book) and did not make provision for this. Another lesson in if you want it done right ...do it yourself. I was definitely a newbie at that time and since there are a lot of pieces and parts to these systems I did not notice the lack of or need for a flushing system. It is another hard learned lesson since I am now attacking this problem in the middle of winter.

For everyone's info ....aside from no input on "make sure you put a flushing mechanism in" for the heat exchanger, the system was designed by a service that designs these on an on-going basis. At that time ....I was told to get a 30 plate heat exchanger. Speaking with this source now indicates that a 40 plate should also be fine and maybe slightly oversized. But since this source was also negligent about info on the flushing mechanism for the heat exchanger ....I wanted to get more input from people who have vested interests in their systems.

 

[headrc]

Ok ...now the source that I got my AIC exchanger from n the first place has now recommended a tube design heat exchanger ...stating that it will do the job and will not foul as easily, will be easier to clean and will be better in heat transfer. Anyone have input on this idea? Their recommendation is another AIC product but it is a tube heat exchanger.

 

[bpirger]

I'll just throw out one more thing. I think the range you are looking at in price is likely from $150 to say $400. How much time have you invested so far in looking to replace (yes, I kinda agree, its part of the fun.....but you could be splitting wood! ) ALso, how much time will it take to cut out the old one and replace with the new? And cost of extra fittings and stuff (ignoring even adding the strainers and clean out ports)? Add this up.....and even if you can do things twice as fast as this DIYer, you still are way over the $200 more you'd spend just to get a larger, perhpas more trustable unit.....

That said, I know I spend forever on such decisions to. If you went out and bought Modern Hydronic Heating to learn, just as I did as well, then obviously you enjoy this stuff and want to KNOW how it all works.....

But at the end of the day, those extra few dollars, whether tube or plate, are going to be well invested.

I've built my house, nearly every nail myself, but I hate to have to redo work......