SUPERCHANGER® Plate & Frame Heat Exchanger

The SUPERCHANGER® heat exchanger is designed to provide maximum efficiency in transferring heat from one liquid to another, or from steam to liquid. The SUPERCHANGER® consists of a series of gasketed, embossed metal plates arranged alternately and bolted together between end frames to form channels through which hot and cold media flow. The hot fluid flows on one side of the plate while the cold fluid flows on the other, with the plate itself providing the most effective means to transfer heat from one fluid to the other. Gaskets mounted on the plates seal the channels and provide flow direction. As liquids flow counter-currently through the channels between the plates, the cold liquid becomes warmer and the hot liquid cooler.

Most units are designed for a one pass/one pass flow arrangement resulting in all nozzles being installed on the stationary end frame, which facilitates simpler piping arrangements and easier disassembly.

SUPERCHANGER® unit can handle temperature approaches of less than 1°C (2°F). It also offers “U” values significantly greater than other exchangers, above 8500 W/m2 °C (1500 Btu/hr ft2 °F). This is due to the unique turbulence created by its corrugated plates, which eliminates stagnant areas in liquid flow and promotes maximum heat transfer.

Self-cleaning action
The unit’s velocity profile and induced turbulence causes dirty product deposits to be continually removed from the heat transfer surface during operation, thereby reducing fouling. Effective use of the plate’s turbulence can be made with in-place cleaning, which allows backflushing water or pumping cleaning solutions into the unit without disassembling.

Units can also be taken apart for cleaning the plate surfaces. Plates can be electropolished to make cleaning easier, either manually or in-place.