Choosing the Optimal Heat Exchanger for Your Business: Download a Free Questionnaire

Selecting the right heat exchanger is a crucial engineering decision that can significantly enhance the efficiency of production processes, optimize energy consumption, and ensure long-term operational stability. API Schmidt plate heat exchangers stand out for their flexibility and adaptability, making them suitable for high-performance and reliability-demanding applications. To help you make the right choice, we offer a free questionnaire. By filling it out, you’ll assist our engineers in selecting the heat exchanger that best fits your specific requirements.

Plate Heat Exchangers

With years of expertise in demanding applications, we provide tailored, cost-effective solutions for our clients. Our plate heat exchangers are industry-leading solutions for various thermal processes in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Benefits of Schmidt SIGMA Heat Exchangers

• Heat Transfer Performance: Unique plate designs provide high heat transfer coefficients, reducing maintenance and capital expenses.
• Compact Design: A small footprint with a large heat transfer area saves space and reduces weight.
• Versatility: Plates are available in various materials and configurations to meet your specific heat transfer needs.
• Maximum Efficiency: High heat transfer coefficients and counter-current flow allow for up to 96% heat recovery efficiency.
• Minimal Fouling: High turbulence creates a self-cleaning effect, reducing fouling on heat transfer surfaces.
• Easy Maintenance: Equipment can be cleaned without disassembly using CIP systems or backflushing; plates can be removed by simply loosening the clamping bolts.
• Expandable Design: Configuration changes are possible by adding or removing plates as needed.
• Reliability: Unique plate designs ensure optimal alignment and excellent sealing.

Technical Features and Advantages

• Heat Transfer Efficiency: Special plate corrugations promote high heat transfer coefficients by creating turbulent flow and uniform fluid distribution.
• Counter-Current Flow: Achieves cooling efficiency exceeding 96% by bringing hot fluids down to the temperature of the cold fluid.
• Reliable Gaskets: Specially designed gaskets ensure a tight fit within grooves, enhancing sealing and simplifying maintenance.
• Double-Sealing Design: Prevents fluid mixing by directing leaks into open spaces for immediate detection.
• Ease of Service: Galvanized bolts and a fully bolted design allow for straightforward maintenance.

Key Features:

• • Replacing gaskets with welds enhances safety for critical processes.
  • Handles temperatures ≥250°C, suitable for steam, thermal oils, and food-grade oils.
  • Operates under pressures ≥25 bar, ideal for refrigerant condensation and high-pressure systems.
  • Compact design minimizes installation and piping requirements.
  • Efficient thermal performance with uniform counter-current flow.
  • Low fluid volume improves process control and safety for hazardous substances.

• Features: High-pressure operation, robust shell construction, and flexibility with multiple passes on both shell and plate sides.
• Specifications: Pressure up to 150 bar, temperatures from -200°C to 500°C, viscosity up to 8000 mPa·s.
• Advantages: Thermal shock resistance, rapid start-up, compact design, and ease of maintenance.

Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers

• Manufacturing Capabilities

API Schmidt® brazed plate heat exchangers are produced at state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Brazing furnaces are equipped with highly precise control systems that ensure uniform heating at the correct temperatures for selected materials. Assembly robots automatically stack the plates and position the connections accurately. Each finished model undergoes thorough testing to ensure complete sealing.

• Design and Efficiency

API Schmidt® brazed plate heat exchangers consist of up to 150 stamped stainless steel plates. The plates are brazed together, with every other plate rotated 180°, creating channels for the counterflow of two media. This plate design induces high flow turbulence, which enhances heat transfer performance. The result is a highly efficient heat exchanger that makes maximum use of all materials for heat transfer.

• Benefits in Refrigerant Applications

API Schmidt® brazed plate heat exchangers are highly efficient in cooling systems. Thanks to their compact size, low refrigerant volume, and high performance, they are ideal for use as evaporators, condensers, and chillers. Standard models are available with capacities of up to 30 tons, while custom configurations can meet virtually any requirement.

• Brazing Materials

• Copper brazing: Suitable for use with halocarbon refrigerants such as R-22 and R-404a.
• Nickel brazing: Available for use with ammonia.

• Refrigerant Distribution

Evaporators with a specific number of plates feature an internal refrigerant distribution system, ensuring uniform refrigerant flow and maximizing the efficiency of the unit.

• Compactness and Cost Savings

The compact size of brazed plate heat exchangers simplifies integration into systems with low cooling capacities, saving both time and costs during installation.