Brazed plate heat exchanger function

Stacked channel plates

SWEP brazed plate heat exchangers are constructed of stacked corrugated plates, separated by layers of filler, and mounted between cover-plate packages. During the vacuum brazing process, the filler material forms brazed joints at every contact point between the plates, creating two separate internal circuits with highly complex channels.

During operation, the heat exchanger channels a cold medium and a hot medium through alternating plates within the stack. As the two media flow past each other (but never mix), energy, in the form of heat, is transferred from one to the other.

Cover plates and connections

Cover-plate packages consist of sealing plates, blind rings, and cover plates. The thickness of the cover plates will vary according to the type, size, and pressure rating of the heat exchanger. Cover plate assemblies are designed to be compatible with a range of different connections, which can be customized for specific applications.

Sealing plates

Sealing plates are used to seal the spaces between the cover plates and the first and last channel plates. Some brazed plate heat exchangers have a blind ring to seal off the space between the channel plate and the cover plate. In others, the blind rings are integrated into the cover plate and the first and last channel plates.

SWEP brazed plate heat exchangers channell package

Customizable channels

Varying the type of plates inside the heat exchanger, as well as the channel patterns on those plates, will alter the hydraulic and thermal characteristics of the unit, making it easy to optimize for your system. For example, two brazed plate heat exchangers can have the same pressure drop on both sides, despite different flow rates.

Dual circuit brazed plate heat exchangers
Two-pass brazed plate heat exchangers
Dual-over-two-pass brazed plate heat exchangers

Customizable flows

Heat exchangers can be constructed with different flow configurations, according to your application and needs. Parallel-flow brazed plate heat exchangers can employ either co-current or counter-current configurations.

Co-current flow
Counter-current flow

Built for the toughest applications

SWEP brazed plate heat exchangers can be optimized for high design pressures and the toughest applications. Our standard channel plates are made of AISI 316 stainless steel, which can be vacuum-brazed either with pure copper or a nickel-based filler. For especially demanding applications, we offer units made entirely of stainless steel.

How do we do it?

Take a look at our production – from pressing, stacking, and brazing
plates to testing and labeling.