The main components of a plate heat exchanger are the heat exchange plates and the sealing gasket. The sealing performance of the gasket will directly affect the operation of the heat exchanger. Once the gasket of a plate heat exchanger loses its sealing effect, it will directly lead to equipment shutdown. The following is a brief introduction.
The key to daily maintenance of HVAC plate heat exchangers is the three core factors that affect the sealing effect of the gasket: the gasket itself, installation operation, and operating environment.
1.The quality of the rubber gasket itself: (The material and state of the rubber gasket itself are the basis of sealing and directly determine the sealing ability of the rubber gasket). Different media require matching corresponding rubber gasket materials.
2.Installation and assembly operation: Clamping bolt torque: Too small a torque will result in insufficient compression of the rubber gasket and failure to form an effective seal; too large a torque may damage the rubber gasket or plate, causing permanent deformation.Cleanliness of plates and gaskets: Oil, impurities or scratches on the plate sealing surface or gasket surface will destroy the integrity of the sealing contact surface and cause medium leakage.Installation order and alignment: If the plates are not arranged in the correct order during assembly, or if the overall alignment of the plates is deviated, the rubber pads will be unevenly stressed and local sealing will fail.
3.Operating conditions and maintenance: Temperature and pressure fluctuations: High temperature or high pressure shock beyond the design range will accelerate the aging of the rubber gasket and even cause the rubber gasket to deform instantly and detach from the sealing groove.
In addition to these three core influencing factors, there are also the following factors:
1.Pressure influence. Leakage of a plate heat exchanger during normal operation is not only due to quality factors generated during the manufacturing process, but is generally related to abnormal impact loads within the system. The pressure peak generated at the moment of impact is high, causing the rubber seal inside the plate heat exchanger to shift, resulting in seal failure.
2.Time influence. After a heat exchanger has been in use or idle for several years, it will begin to age due to the inherent reasons of the sealing material, which will affect its own sealing reliability. Therefore, the sealing gasket should be replaced in time during the annual regular maintenance of the equipment.
3.Temperature influences. Temperature fluctuations in HVAC plate heat exchangers can also cause the sealing gasket to fail, reducing the seal preload. The above are the main reasons, as determined by Tengrui Energy Saving, for plate heat exchanger gasket sealing failures. If gasket sealing failure is discovered during normal use, the cause should be identified as soon as possible, and targeted measures should be taken to avoid losses. We hope this information is helpful.
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