Plate heat exchanger vs tube exchangers

syjos · Nov 12, 2019

What are the pros and cons of plate heat exchanger VS tube heat exchanger in a boats hydronic heating system to transfer engine heat to the hydronic when under way?

The plate heat exchanger seems small compared to a similar BTU SeaKamp style tube heat exchangers.

FF · Nov 12, 2019

The guts of a tube cooler can be cleaned on board with a rifle brush,and a gasket or two.

Should it leak , most radiator shops can re-solder the bundle with ease.

Rebel112r · Nov 12, 2019

On the project I just finished, I chose the plate style. I think either would work. Lots of info out there comparing both. Cost of my 20 plate SS exchanger was $120 bucks, cheap I thought. I did not know what a plate exchanger was before I started shopping around. Lots of choices out there.

O C Diver · Nov 12, 2019

I've only had a plate exchanger on a Grey Marine 6-71. It cooled the oil by exchanging the heat into the freshwater coolant. I removed it and cleaned the oil side, pretty easy. Can't imagine using one where salt raw water is circulated in the plates.

Ted

syjos · Nov 12, 2019

O C Diver said:
I've only had a plate exchanger on a Grey Marine 6-71. It cooled the oil by exchanging the heat into the freshwater coolant. I removed it and cleaned the oil side, pretty easy. Can't imagine using one where salt raw water is circulated in the plates.

Ted

My application would be antifreeze in the engine coolant to antifreeze in the hydronic heating system.

A 40,000 Btu btu tube heat exchanger is 4" X 24" and the plate exchanger appear smaller for the same Btu rating.

I'm curious why tube exchangers are more prevalent than plate exchangers in hydronic heating systems to transfer engine heat.

DDW · Nov 12, 2019

I've have plate exchangers in this application in two boats. In one of them, it developed a leak between the two systems, such that the engine pumped coolant into the hydronic system. The vendor said "this never happens" yet it did. Both sides of the exchanger are subject to pressure cycling as the engine and heating system heat and cool. From an engineering perspective, the tube type would be more robust. I replaced that exchanger with another plate one, and haven't had a recurrence in that boat or the other one.

C lectric · Nov 12, 2019

Plate exchangers are more compact for the same heat transfer ability.
They can be more of a pain to service and because of the close plate spacing may clog more readily.
Keep your fluid CLEAN.

I,ve dealt with a few at my job, long gone. But maintained and kept clean with prop fluid should do just fine.

sunchaser · Nov 12, 2019

My Hurricane II system has a plate exchanger for the exact purpose the OP is asking about. It is about the size of a cigar box. It works great, heating the hydronic coolant (valved off one engine) in all winter conditions we've encountered in the past 13 years since installing it.

AusCan · Nov 12, 2019

If you recirculating clean fluids, the plate exchangers are the way to go. They have more contact area which gives better efficiency. Easy to clean and maintain.
The wall thickness is often thinner in comparison to tube exchangers, so just make sure that they are manufactured with a suitable quality material.

Plate heat exchanger vs tube exchangers

syjos

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FF

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Rebel112r

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O C Diver

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syjos

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DDW

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C lectric

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sunchaser

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AusCan

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