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SixtyFo
10-31-2005, 07:04 PM
FlatePlate Plate HXs (http://www.flatplate.com)

Does anyone know if these can be used effectively in a chiller? Any reccomendations/advice regarding choice etc? Also, where can I get them online?
n00b 0f l337
10-31-2005, 07:30 PM
Yes but they are very expensive. Ebay and there still costly.
RussC
10-31-2005, 09:46 PM
The cheapest one at United Refrigeration is $600.

RussC
jinu117
11-01-2005, 12:22 AM
Huh? Thought it was cheaper... (but than I've only been looking at out of state side recently for parts on heat exchange)
SixtyFo
11-01-2005, 04:16 AM
whoa, that is pricey... has anyone here used plate hx's before?
RussC
11-02-2005, 11:47 AM
Heres one on Ebay, 5hrs left....right now $100
plate heat exchanger (http://cgi.ebay.com/Itt-Plateseal-Heat-Exchanger-Brazed-Plate_W0QQitemZ7557764784QQcategoryZ109484QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem)

RussC
iNF3rN0
11-02-2005, 12:46 PM
I have actually looked this up and ya, there more expensive than a home made one, but there not 600 bux. I had emailed that FlatPlate.com a few months ago and they replied to me saying that they only sell to authorized wholesalers and original equipment manufacturers. But they told me to go to McMaster-Carr Supply (www.mcmaster.com) and enter the kewords "brazed plate heat exchangers". The smallest flatplate exchanger they make is 3" x 8" x 1.11/16" which is a descent size, and can be easily integrated into a custom cooling box thingy, and the cost is $211.67 US.
Stewie007
11-02-2005, 02:24 PM
Yeah, they are VERY effective for chillers. In fact, Carrier uses them on our 30 Series Reciprocating Chillers. However, I would reccommend against using them, as they are quite expensive, and require you to be skilled at brazing. That stainless joint will heat up quickly, and if you don't have steel experience, you'll end up carbonizing that joint and then you'll have a terrible hassle with it. :p
Nephilim
01-02-2007, 05:36 AM
Any of you guys in the know able to tell me if this plate HX (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Heat-Exchanger-suit-WVO-UCO-conversion-fuel-heater_W0QQitemZ290066460309QQihZ019QQcategoryZ724 69QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)would be suitable for a chiller? The barbs are 1/2" outer threaded though :stick:

The WVO/UCO part is what I'm curious about, as those are oils, are there different types of flat plate HX's for different coolant types? Any way to tell what I should be looking for?
n00b 0f l337
01-02-2007, 12:19 PM
More then enough! I think theyre may be differences but very slight. Really only matters if its rated to the proper pressures and temperatures.
epion2985
01-03-2007, 02:02 AM
FlatePlate Plate HXs (http://www.flatplate.com)

Does anyone know if these can be used effectively in a chiller? Any reccomendations/advice regarding choice etc? Also, where can I get them online?

Yes plate heat exchangers are the best performance wise.
Yes they can and should be used in a chiller

But you can get them a lot cheaper then flap plate. Look on ebay, every now and then you can get a 7" by 3" 26-30 plate for about $100-200.

Plate heat exchangers are the way to go.
Arctucas
02-01-2007, 12:57 PM
epion,

Got any links to guides for doing plate HX? I was trying out the selector on flatplate.com, but I really have no idea what to enter for values.
epion2985
02-01-2007, 05:14 PM
You don't "do" heat exchanger's. Sounds like "make them" but I assume you mean use them. Just like any other heat exchanger, pipe one medium though one pass and another medium though another pass.

The only thing that you have to remember with plate heat exchangers is that they have to be upright to function properly, ie vertical. Also to maximize the effect use counter flow, ie refrigerant enters at the bottom and leaves at the top while the coolant enters at the top and exits at the bottom.

Flat plate are overpriced for this type of use. You can usually find a much better deal on ebay. Don't worry too much about sizing. Something about7" by 3" 30 plates deep should be fine for anything you'll need.

I personally have bought 2 of these from this guy and they are great:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/30-plate-Flat-Plate-Heat-Exchanger-vegetable-oil-wvo_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6755QQihZ004QQitemZ 140079686571QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

full ebay listing:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=plate+heat+exchanger&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&ebaytag1=ebayreg&srchdesc=n&maxRecordsReturned=300&maxRecordsPerPage=50&SortProperty=MetaEndSort
Arctucas
02-02-2007, 04:17 AM
epion,

Thanks, I was actually wondering if an old window type A/C unit (5K BTU) using R-12 would be sufficient to get water/glycol mix temps to around 0 degrees F with up to 500W heat load and coolant flow rate of 2 GPM?
Xeon th MG Pony
02-02-2007, 10:02 AM
5000BTU = 1.5Kw So @ 500watts you'll have APX an additional 1Kw to spare @ a coolant temp of 20C. As temps go down so will the capacity, So with that amount of capacity yes it will work.

Just use extreme caution to not vent the R-12 it is an indisputable Ozone depleting substance.
Arctucas
02-02-2007, 10:51 AM
Xeon,

Thanks, yes I will have a friend who is an HVAC tech pump down the system and recover the Freon.
epion2985
02-02-2007, 11:16 AM
epion,

Thanks, I was actually wondering if an old window type A/C unit (5K BTU) using R-12 would be sufficient to get water/glycol mix temps to around 0 degrees F with up to 500W heat load and coolant flow rate of 2 GPM?

More then enough. Those are usually 1/2 hp rotaries, you can easily get around -35C coolant (under load) if done right.