Plate heat exchanger operation

I. Driving Operation and Precautions
1. When using new process pipelines, be sure to remove debris from the pipelines to avoid clogging the heat exchanger.
2. If wastewater is used as the cooling medium, or the waste heat of wastewater is recovered, or the medium contains granular solids, a filter or dirt remover should be installed at the inlet of the heat exchanger to prevent clogging of the heat exchanger.
3. When the temperature of the cooling water (to be heated) exceeds 40℃, it should be softened as much as possible to prevent scale buildup in the heat exchanger, which would affect the heat transfer efficiency.
4. Check that the pipeline connections are correct to avoid mixing of the two media and causing adverse consequences.
5. Before starting the machine, strictly check whether the inlet valves for cold and hot media are closed and whether the outlet valves are open.
6. After completing the above steps, the machine can be started. When starting the machine, first start the pumps for both the cold and hot media, then slowly open the inlet valve for the cold media, and then open the inlet valve for the hot media, allowing the media to flow slowly into the heat exchanger to prevent the temperature from becoming too high.
7. Inspect all sealing surfaces and welds for any abnormal phenomena such as leakage.
8. Slowly increase the temperature while simultaneously measuring and calculating whether the process requirements are met. Once met, normal operation can commence.
II. Normal Operation and Inspection
1. Regularly inspect all sealing surfaces and welds of the heat exchanger for any abnormal phenomena such as leaks. If a leak is found, mark the leak point immediately and address it after shutting down the machine.
2. Regularly check the pressure gauge and thermometer to observe for any abnormal phenomena.
3. When stopping the machine, first slowly close the inlet valves for both the hot and cold media, and then close the outlet valves for both media. When starting the machine, do the opposite: first open the outlet valve, and then slowly open the inlet valve.
4. The low-pressure side medium should be tested regularly to prevent the high-pressure side medium from mixing in. If mixing occurs, it indicates an internal leak, and the machine should be shut down for repair.
III. Shutdown Procedures and Precautions
1. Before shutting down the machine, the pump must be stopped and the power supply disconnected.
2. After stopping the pump, first slowly close the inlet valve for the hot medium, then close the inlet valve for the cold medium. Finally, close the outlet valves for both media.
3. If a vent valve is installed on the pipeline, it should be opened.
4. For high-temperature or corrosive media, the equipment should be emptied as much as possible to avoid burns to people and corrosion of the equipment when the equipment is opened.