Spiral Plate Heat Exchanger

Spiral Plate Heat Exchanger

A spiral plate heat exchanger is an efficient heat exchange equipment suitable for heat transfer in steam-steam, steam-liquid, and liquid-liquid systems. It is used in industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, solvents, food, light industry, textiles, metallurgy, rolling steel, and coking. Spiral plate heat exchangers can be categorized into non-detachable (Type I) and removable (Type II, Type III) designs based on their structural form.

Spiral plate heat exchangers, proven over years of practical use, are indeed an efficient type of stainless steel heat exchanger. They are suitable for applications in industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, solvents, food, light industry, textiles, metallurgy, rolling steel, and coking. These heat exchangers incorporate cutting-edge technology and are uniquely optimized liquid-liquid and vapor-water heat exchangers. The product's structure and process adhere to the standards of the Swedish "Alfa Laval" company, with the spiral plate ends sealed using folded edge argon arc welding. The "top distance column" special process is used for capacitive storage contactors, enhancing both internal and external quality, and earning recognition from "Baosteel."

The non-separable spiral plate heat exchanger is designed according to the form of non-separable spiral plate heat exchangers as specified in the JB/TQ724-89 standard. It features simple manufacturing, low cost, compact size, and good heat transfer performance. However, it also has its drawbacks, such as the inability to be mechanically cleaned and difficulty in maintenance. The selector should choose the specific equipment according to the actual project conditions to ensure its effectiveness.

Spiral plate heat exchanger structure and performance:

1. This equipment is suitable for liquid-liquid, gas-gas, and gas-liquid heat transfer, which can be used for steam condensation and liquid evaporation heat transfer in industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, machinery, electricity, light industry, and textiles.

2. This equipment is made from two steel plates rolled into two even spiral channels, allowing for full countercurrent flow with two heat transfer cutoffs. It is suitable for heat transfer with small temperature differences, facilitates the recovery of low-temperature heat sources, and can accurately control the outlet temperature.

3. The transition on the housing is tangential, with minimal local resistance. The helical channel has a uniform curvature, and there is no significant change in direction of fluid flow within the equipment. The total resistance is low, thereby allowing for an increased design flow rate, which enhances its heat transfer capability.

4. The ends of the spiral channel are welded for a sealed closure, offering excellent sealing performance and a reliable structure.

5. Not easy to repair, especially when the internal panels have issues, it's extremely difficult to fix. Some factories remove all the welds at both ends of the equipment, resurface and re-weld the panels, and then roll them again, which consumes an excessive amount of labor. The corrosion prevention of the helical plate heat exchangers is of great importance.

6. Not suitable for mechanical cleaning; production practice has proven that spiral plate heat exchangers are less prone to clogging compared to conventional tube bundle heat exchangers. Particularly, suspended particles like silt and small shells do not easily settle in the spiral channels. The reasons for this are: one, since it's a single-channel system, any sedimentation is quickly flushed away as the circulating flow turns; two, there are no dead corners in the spiral channels, making it easy to flush out impurities.

7. Due to the presence of spacer columns in the helical channel to maintain the spacing, there must be no fibrous impurities (cotton yarn, straw sticks, leaves, etc.) entering the internal heat exchanger.

8. Strictly control the outlet temperature of the cooling water below the scaling temperature.

9. Common cleaning methods include steam blowing or alkali washing. Steam should be blown into the inlet to expel impurities from the equipment, which many users believe to be an effective method.

Detachable Spiral Plate Heat Exchangers (Type II, Type III)

The structural principle is essentially the same as that of a non-detachable heat exchanger, but the channels can be opened for cleaning, and both ends are sealed with end caps. Particularly suitable for liquid-liquid heat exchange involving viscous or sedimentary liquids, as well as gas-liquid and steam condensation. Due to the need for additional components such as end caps and flanges, the equipment cost is slightly higher than that of a non-detachable heat exchanger.