How to choose the gasket material of plate heat exchanger?

Gasket is the sealing element of plate heat exchanger. It plays a key role in increasing sealing pressure and preventing leakage, it also makes the two media flow through their respective flow channels without mixture.

Therefore, it is very important to note that proper gasket should be used before running heat exchanger, So how to choose a right gasket for plate heat exchanger?

plate heat exchanger

Generally, the following considerations should be made:

Whether it meets the design temperature;

Whether it meets the design pressure;

Chemical compatibility for media and CIP cleaning solution;

Stability under specific temperature conditions;

Whether food grade is requested

The commonly used gasket material includes EPDM, NBR and VITON, they apply to different temperatures, pressures and media.

The service temperature of EPDM is - 25 ~ 180 ℃. It is suitable for media such as  water, steam, ozone, non petroleum based lubricating oil, dilute acid, weak base, ketone, alcohol, ester etc.

The service temperature of NBR is - 15 ~ 130 ℃. It is suitable for media such as fuel oil, lubricating oil, animal oil, vegetable oil, hot water, salt water etc.

The service temperature of VITON is - 15 ~ 200 ℃. It is suitable for media such as concentrated sulfuric acid, caustic soda, heat transfer oil, alcohol fuel oil, acid fuel oil, high temperature steam, chlorine water, phosphate etc.

In general, a variety of factors need to be considered comprehensively to select a suitable gasket for plate heat exchanger. If necessary, the gasket material can be selected through the liquid resistance test.

plate heat exchanger-1

Post time: Aug-15-2022