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Quotes - Engineering - SalesBrazed Plate Sizing & Selection
Getting the Selection Right First Time
Within a model family, capacity comes from plate count. More plates means more surface, more capacity and more pressure drop. The selection exercise is finding the plate count that meets the thermal duty inside the pressure drop you can afford, on both sides.
What we need. Both fluids identified, flow rates, inlet and required outlet temperatures, design pressure and the allowable pressure drop each side. On refrigerant duty, the refrigerant, the saturation conditions and whether the unit evaporates or condenses.
Fouling allowance. Because a brazed unit cannot be opened, fouling allowance matters more than on a gasketed unit. Being honest about water quality at selection is the difference between a unit that runs for a decade and one that blocks in two years.
Know when to walk away. If the fluid carries particulates, if the duty may grow, or if anyone will need to see the heat transfer surface, a brazed unit is the wrong purchase regardless of price. We will say so rather than sell one.
Typical Specification
- Capacity: Set by plate count within a model family
- Thermal inputs: Flow, inlet and outlet temperatures, both fluids
- Hydraulic inputs: Allowable pressure drop each side
- Mechanical inputs: Design pressure and temperature
- Refrigerant inputs: Refrigerant, saturation conditions, evaporating or condensing
- Fouling: Allowance matters more than on a gasketed unit
- Braze material: Copper standard, nickel for ammonia
- Connections: Threaded, soldered or flanged
- Not suitable: Particulates, growing duty, inspectable surface required
- Alternative: Gasketed Accu-Therm where any of those apply
| PRODUCT | CONSTRUCTION | MATERIALS | SUPPLY |
| Brazed Plate Sizing & Selection | Mueller factory built | 304 / 316 stainless | Authorized representative |
Brazed Plate Sizing & Selection
Pressure Drop Is the Usual Surprise
Brazed plate channels are narrow, and pressure drop rises quickly with flow. A unit selected on thermal duty alone can meet the temperature target and be impossible to pump through at the flow the system delivers.
Send the allowable pressure drop with the duty. It is the figure most enquiries leave out, and the one most likely to change which unit you end up with.
Common FAQs
Both fluids with flow rates, inlet and required outlet temperatures, design pressure and the allowable pressure drop on each side. For refrigerant duty, add the refrigerant, the saturation conditions and whether it evaporates or condenses.
Honestly, and more generously than on a gasketed unit, because there is no mechanical cleaning option. Tell us the water source and treatment and we will apply a realistic allowance rather than a default.
Within reason. Excessive oversizing lowers velocity, which encourages the deposition you were trying to guard against, so it is not a free safety margin. A modest allowance plus a strainer is usually the better arrangement.
Whenever the fluid carries particulates, the duty is likely to grow, or someone will need to inspect the heat transfer surface. Those three conditions are what a gasketed Accu-Therm exists for.
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