Thermo-hydraulic rating of a gasketed-plate heat exchanger for methanol heating

The use of plate heat exchangers is desirable since they have a simple compact construction, are reliable, and very efficient at small temperature difference between fluids. In the present work the thermo-hydraulic rating of a proposed gasketed-plate heat exchanger was carried out, in order to heat a methanol stream. A safety factor of 1.62, a percent over surface of 3.91% and a cleanliness factor of 0.962 was obtained. The calculated values of the pressure drops for both the hot water and methanol streams were 47,199.05 Pa and 78,414.61 Pa, respectively, while the pumping power required for those both streams were 4.81 kW and 11.38 kW, respectively. The proposed gasketed-plate heat exchanger can be used for the requested heat transfer service since the percent over surface is lower than 25% and the calculated pressure drop of both streams are below the maximum permissible pressure drop established by the process.