2 replies to this topic

[aelnasr]

Dear All

This is my first time posting here but I am currently doing costing for a summer research project and I need help on costing a plate-frame heat exchanger. I have tried using Timmerhaus (Fig 14-27) to do the costing of a plate frame exchanger with a required heat transfer area of about 50000m2 (Stainless steel construction). The maximum area allowed on the graph is about 1000m2, so I obtained a purchased cost of $100000 for the 1, and multiplied it by the adjustment factor of stainless steel, bringing the cost of the 1000m2 exchanger to 230000USD, then the total cost would be about 11500000 which I believe is highly unrealistic. Is there any other approach to size such a big exchanger? There is nothing available on matche for plate frame exchangers and the same for Perrys.

Thanks
Adel

[ankur2061]

Adel,

Why don't you approach a manufacturer of PHE itself? Some reputed manufacurers are Alfa Laval, APV and Tranter. Some of these companies provide a lot of information to students involved in research projects. It is a kind of goodwill exercise these companies adopt to be recognized as socially responsible companies in furthering the cause of engineering education globally.

I am sure that this information can be obtained from reputed PHE manufacturers.

Regards,
Ankur

[kkala]

It seems that a plate frame exchanger of 50000 m2 area is not feasible, it is too big. According to [url] http://geoheat.oit.edu/pdf/tp54.pdf [url], practically max flow of such exchangers is about 6000 gpm (1360 m3/h) and max area about 13000 ft2 (1200 m2). See page 262 (chapter 11.2.1, General capabilities) in above mentioned reference, more or less verifying Timmerhauss.
So for an area of 50000 m2 you will need about 40 plate exchangers in parallel, which may be not practical (though not impossible). Another configuration might be more suitable.
If total capital cost of a 1000 m2 plate exchanger is 0.23 MM$, then total cost of 50 such exchangers would be about 11.5 MM$, which complies with your estimate.