Plate Heat Exchanger - Which are inlets/outlet?

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Darcey

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Hello all!

So my attention turns to cooling my beer the only item left on the rebuild.

I have been looking at a 30 plate head exchanger but before I buy all the fittings can anyone say which posts are the in / out? Is does it matter? I have only used an industrial one before but not a small domestic one.
I assume they are:
F1, F3 - 3/4" Coolant
F2, F4 - 1/2"- Liquid being cooled / heated

Schematic:
zeichnung-50671.jpg


thanks,

D
 
Mine seems to have the same size fittings on all four post 1/2" bsp I know on either this forum or another there was some discussion on this issue as someone couldn't get to cool one way so swapped them around and worked, try searching on here or Jim's, it was some time over 12 months ago. As mine seems to have same size fittings it won't make a difference if I need to swapp them depending how well it performs.
 
This might sound ridiculous...I have been looking on ebay at heat exchangers...Is there a reason why we cannot use a plate heat exchanger from a combi boiler??

Obviously would need to be cleaned up a lot, probably boiled in caustic or similar
 
This might sound ridiculous...I have been looking on ebay at heat exchangers...Is there a reason why we cannot use a plate heat exchanger from a combi boiler??
Nope, no good reason why not...only thing to watch out for is the braizing material, most are coper braized IIRC but you never know.
 
I was wondering if it was anything to do with the way the plates are designed and if there is an optimum flow direction.
one thing you could do if you feel like doing it is to time how long it takes say several litres of water to flow through the chiller in various directions and make a decision on what you find.
At the end of the day in reality it probably doesn't make a **** of difference.
 
mashman said:
I was wondering if it was anything to do with the way the plates are designed and if there is an optimum flow direction.
one thing you could do if you feel like doing it is to time how long it takes say several litres of water to flow through the chiller in various directions and make a decision on what you find.
At the end of the day in reality it probably doesn't make a **** of difference.

I did a little test. it looks like you flow the hot into the point of the V and the coolant the other way. Seemed to work better. I think a proper test is in order however.

D
 
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