The shell & plate heat exchanger is a relatively new concept in heat transfer. For many years plate-type exchangers have been encroaching in areas that were previously served by traditional shell & tube exchangers. This is no surprise since plate exchangers can achieve much higher heat transfer coefficients due to the density of heat transfer area per unit of volume combined with their turbulence inducing profile. Despite their obvious advantages in size and cost, some applications have remained off limits for plate exchangers due to their three main weaknesses (pressure limit, temperature limit, and gasket compatibility). By placing a stack of corrugated plates into a shell, a shell & plate heat exchanger can take advantage of the performance advantages of a plate-type exchanger yet retain the high pressure and temperature limits seen in a shell & tube exchanger. Since the plate pack is welded (ours is 100% laser welded), there are no gasket compatibility issues.
