Plate Heat Exchangers
At InKorr, we deliver plate heat exchangers engineered for high performance in real-world industrial conditions. Our product range is tailored to the specific requirements of heating, cooling, condensation, or evaporation applications across diverse sectors. Every unit is selected or custom-built to match the exact demands of your process, taking into account fluid characteristics, flow rate, pressure, temperature, and installation constraints. This approach ensures each heat exchanger integrates seamlessly into your system, maximising heat transfer efficiency while minimising operating and maintenance costs.
Our expertise spans the full range of plate heat exchanger types: brazed, gasketed, semi-welded, fully welded, and shell and plate configurations. These options allow us to serve both standard and highly specialised applications, from compact HVAC systems to corrosive, high-pressure chemical processing lines. Whether you’re designing a new system or upgrading an existing one, our in-house engineering team works closely with you to deliver durable, future-ready solutions that improve uptime and reduce energy use.
Explore our full range online or speak with our engineering team here to find the right solution for your needs.
Our Plate Heat Exchanger Types
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What is a Plate Heat Exchanger?
A plate heat exchanger is a specialised device that transfers thermal energy between two fluids, typically liquids or gases, without allowing them to mix. This separation is essential, as it plays a crucial role in processes that must avoid contamination or involve fluids operating at different pressures. In addition, heat exchangers are fundamental components in countless systems, playing a vital role in regulating temperatures, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring safe, stable operation.
Many industrial sectors use heat exchangers. In power generation, they help convert steam into usable energy, in HVAC systems, they regulate indoor temperatures efficiently, and in the food and beverage industry, they ensure safe pasteurisation and refrigeration. They contribute not only to operational effectiveness but also to reducing energy waste and minimising environmental impact through heat recovery and reuse.
Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers
Brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs) offer a highly efficient and compact solution for thermal transfer in both residential and industrial systems. Engineers design these units with tightly stacked stainless steel plates, which are fused together using brazing. This all-metal construction eliminates the need for gaskets, reducing maintenance requirements and making them leak-resistant even under high-pressure conditions.
Due to their small footprint and high thermal performance, BPHEs are widely used in HVAC systems, domestic hot water systems, refrigeration systems, hydraulic oil cooling, and renewable energy systems like solar water heating or heat pumps. Their ability to handle both gases and liquids, makes them a cost-effective and reliable option when space, durability, and efficiency are priorities.
Gasketed & Semi-Welded Plate Heat Exchangers
Gasketed and semi-welded plate heat exchangers are designed for systems that require routine maintenance, flexibility in capacity, or operate with challenging fluids. These units consist of a series of metal plates sealed together with elastomer gaskets, creating alternating flow channels for the two working fluids. Their bolt-together design allows technicians to easily open the unit for cleaning, inspection, or modification, which makes them ideal in applications where fouling is common or frequent servicing is expected.
Semi-welded variants, on the other hand, combine welded and gasketed plates, improving durability in more aggressive or hazardous conditions. These are particularly suitable for fluids such as ammonia, organic solvents, or viscous liquids that could degrade standard gaskets or cause excessive maintenance in fully gasketed designs.
Common applications include chemical processing, dairy and food production, marine cooling systems, and district heating networks. At InKorr, our service technicians are equipped to provide complete support for gasketed and semi-welded plate heat exchangers, including cleaning, re-gasketing, preventative maintenance, and failure diagnostics.
Welded Plate Heat Exchangers
Welded plate heat exchangers are built to withstand demanding environments where gaskets are either unsuitable or could lead to premature failure. By welding the plates together instead of sealing them with gaskets, these units achieve exceptional durability, pressure tolerance, and temperature resistance, making them ideal for the toughest process conditions.
These exchangers are frequently used in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, power generation, and industrial manufacturing. Their robust construction allows them to handle aggressive fluids, corrosive media, and applications involving high cyclic thermal loads.
Despite their ruggedness, welded plate heat exchangers still offer the core benefits of plate-based designs, including high heat transfer efficiency and a compact footprint. Their ability to maintain performance in extreme scenarios makes them a dependable choice for critical operations that demand uninterrupted reliability.
Shell & Plate Heat Exchangers
Shell and plate heat exchangers are hybrid designs that merge the high-efficiency characteristics of plate heat exchangers with the mechanical strength of shell-and-tube systems. This structure typically encloses a fully welded plate pack inside a cylindrical shell, allowing it to withstand higher pressures and temperatures while still benefiting from the enhanced thermal performance of plates.
These units are especially well-suited for processes involving phase changes, such as evaporation, condensation, or sub-cooling, where both durability and efficiency are required. They are often found in refrigeration cycles, chemical plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and power generation systems.
Shell and plate exchangers are compact and resilient, capable of operating under harsh process conditions with minimal maintenance. Their sealed construction prevents leaks and cross-contamination, making them suitable for sanitary and hazardous applications alike.
Industry Applications
InKorr’s plate heat exchangers are deployed across Australia in industries where thermal precision, hygiene, and system reliability are paramount. Our solutions are designed to perform reliably in the unique operating conditions of each industry we serve.
In the chemical and petrochemical sectors, our welded and semi-welded units are used to process highly reactive and corrosive fluids at high pressures and temperatures. These systems provide excellent resistance to chemical degradation and ensure safe, stable heat transfer even in the most demanding production environments.
In the HVAC and refrigeration industries, brazed plate exchangers offer a space-saving, energy-efficient solution for temperature control in buildings, industrial refrigeration, and chilled water systems. Their sealed design and low pressure drop make them ideal for systems requiring compact, maintenance-free operation.
The power generation sector relies on our high-capacity units for turbine cooling, condensate recovery, and boiler feedwater heating. Plate designs allow for rapid thermal response, helping maintain process stability and efficiency under fluctuating loads.
For mining and heavy industry, our durable, anti-fouling designs manage slurry and process fluids with high solids content. These exchangers operate reliably in abrasive, high-pressure environments where other systems may fail or require frequent maintenance.
In food and beverage processing, we supply hygienic, cleanable plate heat exchangers that support pasteurisation, CIP (clean-in-place), and temperature-sensitive heating and chilling processes. Our units are compliant with industry hygiene standards and are engineered for ease of maintenance and inspection.
In water and wastewater treatment, our systems are used for sludge heating, heat recovery, and the management of corrosive and fouling-prone streams. Their efficiency and adaptability make them ideal for decentralised systems or operations with strict sustainability goals.
Plate Heat Exchangers FAQ:
Why Choose InKorr?
InKorr is your trusted partner for industrial heat transfer systems in Australia. Our deep expertise in plate heat exchanger technology, combined with a responsive local support team, allows us to deliver engineered solutions that are practical, durable, and cost-effective.
What sets InKorr apart is our commitment to customer support and aftersales service. From commissioning and maintenance to repairs and performance optimisation, our technicians are with you every step of the way. We provide a rapid turnaround on servicing and product delivery across the country, minimising downtime and keeping your operations moving.
And with our enhanced diagnostic testing and automated transparent reporting system, you can be sure your equipment will be well maintained. We don’t just sell equipment, we provide solutions that enhance productivity, reduce energy consumption, and support growth.