Plate heat exchangers are one of the most popular forms of heat exchangers used in air conditioning. If you want to learn about how these exchangers are built, how they work, and where they are used, read on. In this blog post, you will also learn about evaporators and condensers in air conditioners and how they differ from each other. We will also explain how the maintenance of plate heat exchangers for air conditioning should be carried out and which models are best suited for this application. We warmly invite you to read.
Plate heat exchangers for air conditioning are made of high-quality materials. Typically, corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel is used in their construction, ensuring durability and protection against corrosion. The plate heat exchanger, as the name suggests, consists of a set of metal plates tightly connected to form a structure allowing the flow of fluids and heat exchange between them without mixing. The plates of the exchanger are brazed together with a material that allows effective heat transmission - copper.
Plate heat exchangers are exceptionally efficient, and their compact dimensions allow for the reduction of the size of air conditioning systems and increased energy efficiency. The construction of these devices is adapted to various weather conditions, making them reliable and able to operate for long periods without breakdowns with proper maintenance.
✅ The main parameter which should be required if we want to consider a given unit the heat exchanger for air condition - is a high-pressure resistance - as the media like freons or refrigerants require this.
❌ If the heat exchanger is certified only up ot 2-3 MPa or 20-30 bar - it should NOT be used with the air conditioning.
A plate heat exchanger is a key element in the operation of an air conditioning system. Both the air conditioner evaporator and condenser, which are the basic components of the air conditioning system, are plate heat exchangers. These exchangers handle two media in different states - liquid and gas.
The air conditioner evaporator is responsible for absorbing heat from the air and evaporating the refrigerant flowing through its channels. In this way, the air is cooled and blown into the room.
✅ On the other hand, the air conditioner condenser is designed to remove heat collected from inside the building to the outside. This is possible due to the physical transformations occurring in the condenser (condensation of the refrigerant results in its cooling, changing the state of aggregation from gaseous to liquid, and consequently emitting heat to the surroundings).
A plate heat exchanger is very efficient because its construction ensures large contact surfaces between the refrigerant and the air. This allows the device to effectively transfer heat from one medium to another, enabling efficient air cooling.
Plate heat exchangers are extremely useful in air conditioning systems both in homes and in industry. In households, plate heat exchangers can be found in air conditioning units that allow for temperature regulation in rooms. Thanks to them, it is possible to effectively cool and heat the air, providing comfortable living conditions at home.
In industry, plate heat exchangers are used in larger air conditioning systems needed to maintain the proper temperature in production halls, warehouses, or office buildings. Thanks to their multi-channel construction, plate heat exchangers have high efficiency and are able to deliver the required amount of heat or cooling, which is necessary for larger spaces.
The maintenance of plate heat exchangers for air conditioning is similar to that of traditional brazed plate heat exchangers, but due to handling specialized gases under high pressure, it requires special qualifications.
✅ An important aspect of maintaining the efficiency of air conditioning heat exchangers is regular chemical cleaning. The general maintenance of plate heat exchangers involves removing deposits and scale from the exchanger surfaces, restoring optimal heat exchange. There are many chemical agents available on the market that effectively dissolve contaminants.
Regular cleaning of heat exchangers increases the efficiency and longevity of air conditioning systems, ensuring optimal temperature conditions in rooms. During the air conditioning cycle, two devices should be considered, each of which is a heat exchanger - the evaporator and the condenser. Their maintenance differs due to their different positions in the system, as explained below.
✅ Maintaining the air conditioning condenser is crucial to ensure the proper functioning of the entire system. The condenser's task is to expel heat from the building to the outside. Due to the condenser's outdoor location, it is more exposed to contaminants compared to the evaporator located indoors.
However, cleaning the interior of the condenser is crucial for the efficiency of the air conditioning system. This process involves removing deposits with appropriate chemical agents. It is important to note that it is not possible to perform this cleaning independently due to legal restrictions.
To perform any maintenance tasks on devices handling refrigerant gases - so-called F-gases, it is necessary to have appropriate qualifications. Performing any tasks without qualifications can result in significant fines (from 150 to even 1100 EUR).
✅ Cleaning the air conditioning condenser involves disconnecting it from the system and removing the refrigerant according to applicable regulations for working with refrigerants. Due to the permanent brazed connections of the exchanger plates, cleaning its interior involves using special substances to reduce deposits and scale.
✅ This action extends its lifespan and increases the efficiency of the entire process. As a result, the air conditioning system can operate without interruptions, providing the appropriate temperature and comfort inside the building.
Maintaining the air conditioning evaporator is also important despite the location of this device inside the building. Since it is located indoors, it is less exposed to external contaminants such as dust, pollen, or plant particles. However, internal contaminants such as mold, fungi, or bacteria can still accumulate on the surface of the evaporator. Therefore, regular maintenance, including cleaning and disinfection of the air conditioner evaporator, is important to maintain proper air conditioning operation.
However, it should be remembered that just like with the condenser, cleaning the interior of the evaporator is even more important. This process is similar to cleaning the interior of the condenser (to perform it, you also need to have special qualifications).
BLOG:
Undersizing of a heat exchanger - what does it mean in practice?
Oversizing the heat exchanger - what is it for?
What is the production process of brazed plate heat exchangers?
How to choose a heat exchanger for a gas boiler?
How to properly connect a Nordic Tec plate heat exchanger? Can I reverse the flow directions?
History of plate heat exchangers
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