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Clean or untreated water? A BPHE works with both

SWEP UK Representation by Dover Intercompany Services UK Ltd News and PR from SWEP UK Representation by Dover Intercompany Services UK Ltd - Published 20 October 2015 Industries around the world have to face the challenge of water contamination due to insufficient filtration.
The untreated water affects the equipment used in the process plant and is also a major issue for any component where water is used for system processes, for example heat exchangers.

Fouling: a major problem
In most cases, the fluid flowing through a heat exchanger contains traces of dirt, oil, grease, chemicals or organic deposits. This can result in a coating collecting on the heat transfer surface, decreasing the heat transfer coefficient. Mandar Rajwade, Business Engineer at SWEP and based in India with a focus on the South Asian market, is well aware of the problem. “The challenge is to prevent scaling and breakdowns due to fouling issues.” The fouling and scaling on equipment cause damage or clogging. This, in turn, raises maintenance costs and reduces the efficiency output. Fouling can reduce the thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger and change the pressure drop characteristics.

Traditionally, the Indian market has preferred plate heat exchangers with rubber gaskets, since they can be taken apart when cleaning is required. “Many people here have equipment with an open cooling tower circuit or they use makeup water in their systems”, says Mandar Rajwade. “There is a mindset that brazed plated heat exchangers won’t work in our country.”

The answer: self-cleaning BPHEs
Unlike traditional heat exchangers, BPHEs cannot be taken apart since the plates are brazed together. How can they be used in an area where untreated water requires regular cleaning? The answer spells self-cleaning. Highly turbulent flows prevent fouling and scaling. The flows keep particles in the fluid in suspension, i.e. prevents them from sticking on the surface and causing fouling.

An even distribution of fluid through the exchanger is also important. This is strongly related to the plate pattern. SWEP BPHEs have a special pattern in the port areas, designed to ensure a well-distributed flow. Other heat exchangers may have areas sensitive to fouling due to low velocity, for example around gaskets, resulting in laminar flow. Fouling would start here and spread across the heat transfer surface. SWEP BPHEs function perfectly without cleaning, despite poor water quality.

The answer: self-cleaning BPHEs
Unlike traditional heat exchangers, BPHEs cannot be taken apart since the plates are brazed together. How can they be used in an area where untreated water requires regular cleaning? The answer spells self-cleaning. Highly turbulent flows prevent fouling and scaling. The flows keep particles in the fluid in suspension, i.e. prevents them from sticking on the surface and causing fouling.

An even distribution of fluid through the exchanger is also important. This is strongly related to the plate pattern. SWEP BPHEs have a special pattern in the port areas, designed to ensure a well-distributed flow. Other heat exchangers may have areas sensitive to fouling due to low velocity, for example around gaskets, resulting in laminar flow.

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Clean or untreated water? A BPHE works with both

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