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- Ba-12 Serie (0.012m²/plate)
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- Ba-16 Serie (0.016m²/plate & 1" thread)
- Ba-32 Serie (0.032m²/plate & 1" thread)
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- Ba-115 Serie (0.115m²/plate & 2" thread)
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- Insulation jackets for Ba-26-F freon heat exchangers
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New plate heat exchanger - any cracks or signs of rust?
You purchased a plate heat exchanger, received the shipment, and noticed rusty-colored lines or dots. Is it possible for a plate heat exchanger, constructed from stainless steel plates, to rust even inside the box, before coming into contact with water?
Is the newly purchased heat exchanger showing signs of rust on the plates? Can an unused plate heat exchanger rust?
No, let's calm down – plate heat exchangers are manufactured using a vacuum brazing method, where steel plates are joined together using copper brazing material (which has a color resembling corrosion). Copper is heated to temperatures of up to 450 ℃, at which it becomes almost liquid. In this form, it is used to permanently bond the plates of the heat exchanger. Hence, the copper color visible on the sides of the heat exchanger is indeed copper. Some people mistake this for rust, which, upon understanding the production process, seems absurd. It also leaves traces that cannot be removed in case of dirt on the rear or front plate of the heat exchanger. However, this has no technical significance, no impact on the performance of the heat exchanger, and therefore, most manufacturers do not consider it a defect warranting replacement or warranty claims.
✅ Most plate heat exchangers probably have similar irregular – smaller or larger – copper traces, resembling rust to some people, regardless of the manufacturer or brand, as it is an effect of the characteristic production technology.
Rusty Dots and Lines - Cracks on the Heat Exchanger Plate?
During production, copper used as solder for steel plates sometimes leaves traces on the top or bottom plate of the heat exchanger. It often takes the form of rusty lines (which some interpret as cracks in the plate) or dots. These are copper traces and have nothing to do with rust or corrosion. They are purely visual and have no impact on the deterioration of the heat exchanger's performance. These traces also cannot affect the shorter lifespan of the plate heat exchanger in our installation.
Corrosion of Plate Heat Exchangers
✅ In reality, corrosion of a plate heat exchanger before installation or before coming into contact with water is technically almost impossible. While heat exchangers may corrode over time - even if they are made of stainless steel - they must have specific conditions for this to occur, such as the use of exceptionally aggressive mediums. This could be water with salt (some heating installations add salt, similar to chlorine generators in recreational pools).
Nevertheless, regardless of the type of steel used, corrosion of the heat exchanger before its use is essentially impossible - and any rusty deposits have little to do with actual rust apart from their similar appearance.
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