PCHE exchangers are printed circuit heat exchangers that differ from traditional types of welded plate exchangers as a special method is employed for their construction, called Diffusion bonding. Diffusion bonding is an advanced solid state diffusion welding technology, a special process that takes place in special ovens at high pressure and temperature, capable of obtaining a junction of the materials at the molecular structure level. The result is a monobloc plates pack that offers very high mechanical resistance, a characteristic that allows the use of PCHE plate heat exchangers in applications requiring extreme levels of pressure and temperature.
The heat transfer circuits on the plates in PCHE exchangers are created using a special chemical photo-etching process, similar to that used for electronics printed circuits. The methodology allows to create highly customized design layouts with microchannels for the flow of fluids, pushing heat transfer efficiency to the maximum and also enabling to create PCHE exchangers even in multistream mode.
Application examples of the innovative PCHE exchangers are emerging technologies in the hydrogen industry, for electrolysis systems in fuel cells or in hydrogen refueling stations for sustainable mobility; but also the oil & gas industry and emergency heat dissipation applications in fourth generation nuclear reactors.
Learn more about PCHE heat exchangers.
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