Flofab FFWP Series User manual
SINCE 1981
www.flofab.com
001-iom-2017-heffwp
Heat
Exchangers
Series FFWP
& FFWPDW
Operation, Maintenance
& Installation Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 PLATE HEAT EXCHANGERS – WORKING PRINCIPLE
2.0 PARTS & THEIR FUNCTION
2.1 FRAMES
2.2 PLATES
2.3 GASKETS
2.4 FLOW & PLATE ARRANGEMENT
3.0 INSTALLATION
3.1 LIFTING
3.2 INSTALLATION
3.3 PIPING
3.4 STORAGE
4.0 OPERATION
4.1 GENERAL
4.2 STARTING UP
4.3 SHUTTING DOWN
5.0 MAINTENANCE
5.1 OPENING THE HEAT EXCHANGER
5.2 CLOSING THE HEAT EXCHANGER
5.3 GASKETING
6.0 PROBLEM SOLVING
7.0 CLEANING
7.1 FOULING TYPES
7.2 CLEANING PHYSICALLY
7.3 CLEANING IN PLACE
8.0 REPLACEMENT PARTS
Flo Fab was established in 1981 by Denis Gauvreau who created and developed the products line and constantly being perfected by
Marc Gauvreau, as well as by a team of professional engineers and designers. It’s a combination of existing designs from several
renowned products and the innovative ideas of a new generation professionals.
Through the years, Flo Fab has acquired several companies and service entities including : AQUA-PROFAB (ASME Tanks manufac-
turer), MÉNARD, LÉONARD ÉLECTRIQUE, PMA. , Furthermore Flo Fab purchased equipment, fabrication designs and patterns from
IDEALCO, a manufacturer of shell and tube type heat exchangers.
The after sales services, sales, engineering, R&D, production, quality control, accounting and administration departments of all the
above companies share the same location.
In December 2014, Marc Gauvreau, son of the founder, acquired all shares of The company. Flo Fab and is constantly investing in
new state of the art innovations new product like the XRI series and Prefab Skid for Hydronic Hearing 8 cooling system, pumping
systems. This has allowed Flo Fab to retain competent and experienced staff of professionals with varied and specialized abilities
that constantly work on improving our existing products and add new engineered solutions that exceeding customer’s expectations .
Flo Fab has grown quite rapidly and now proudly offers of a wide range of products available directly from one manufacturer. This
includes pumps & pump packages, tanks, heat exchangers & hydronic accessories. This allows each project stakeholders to enjoy
economical savings, peace of mind, best value for their investment and optimized total cost of ownership.
HISTORY
2
2
3
4
5-6
7
7-8
8-9
10
11
11-12
13-14
15-16
17-18
19-20
22-23
23-24
24-25
26
SINCE 1981
2
The Flo Fab FFWP gasketed plate heat exchanger consists of formed chevron plates of corrosion
resistant metals. Every other plate is reversed so the ridges of the herringbone pattern intersect
one another on adjacent plates forming a lattice of contact points. The plates have an elastomer
gasket that is contained in a formed groove to seal the uid between the plates. The plates with
gaskets are then installed in a pressure retaining frame and compressed to form two separate
systems of channels for two media to ow in a countercurrent direction.
The lattice structure causes vigorous turbulence, thus, ensuring maximum heat transfer.
1.0 Plate Heat Exchangers – Working Principle
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
2.0 Parts & Their Function
2.1 Frames
The frame is made up of thick steel pressure retaining parts, the xed cover and the movable
cover, that when pulled together with the tightening bolts form the pressure retaining structure
for the plates / plate pack.
The carrying bar and guide bar act as a carrier and guide to both the plates and the movable
cover.
SINCE 1981
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
3
The heat exchanger plates, which make up the heat transfer surface, are clamped between two
plates of steel with the use of the tightening bolts. The heat exchanger construction allows
a plate heat exchanger to be easily opened for inspection and cleaning.
The plate pattern is corrugated and varies depending on the application and the uids being put
through the heat exchanger. As the plate’s corrugation depth gets smaller the thickness of the
plate can be less.
Each heat exchanger plate is formed by pressing in one piece (no seams or welds).
Most plates have four holes punched, one in each corner. The last plate in a single pass
unit has no holes so the uid ow is reversed or turned. Multiple pass heat exchangers have
turning plates with only two holes for redirecting the uid ow.
Flo Fab heat exchanger plates are made with two different pressing patterns – one is charac-
terized by an obtuse angle giving a high theta plate, the other with an acute angle giving a
low-theta plate.
2.2 Plates
HIGH-THETA PLATE LOW-THETA PLATE
Between two adjacent plates a ow channel is formed with the aid of the gasket. The liquid ows
straight up or down or in parallel ow. No liquid ows between the plates adjacent to the xed
cover and the moveable cover plate.
SINCE 1981
4
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
Each plate has a gasket that produces a sealing and channel system through the entire plate
pack in which the two heat exchanging media ow in a counter-current direction.
The circular portion of the gasket stops the uid from going across the heat transfer plate and
sends it to the next open channel. The remaining portion or eld gasket, directs the opposing
uid across the heat transfer surface.
The gasket can be mechanically clipped to the plate with the glue free “U” shaped clip or glued
in place.
2.3 Gaskets
The corrugated chevron pattern is alternated from plate to plate. This gives the plates contact
points for pressure resistance and also forms a liquid stream that is subject to extensive tur-
bulence resulting in a high heat transfer coefcient, as well as reducing the risk of deposits on
the heat transfer surface.
The gasket is double around the ports to prevent intermixing of the two uids. In the event of
gasket failure, any leakage is vented external to the equipment.
Exit to
atmosphere
Each plate has a gasket that produces a sealing and channel system through the entire plate
pack in which the two heat exchanging media ow in a counter-current direction.
The circular portion of the gasket stops the uid from going across the heat transfer plate and
sends it to the next open channel. The remaining portion or eld gasket, directs the opposing
uid across the heat transfer surface.
The gasket can be mechanically clipped to the plate with the glue free “U” shaped clip or glued
in place.
SINCE 1981
5
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
The heat transfer plates with gaskets are arranged in an alternating pattern of left hand ow and
right hand ow to direct the uids in an opposing direction within the in the heat exchanger. The
completed assembly of all the plates and gaskets is called the “plate pack”.
2.4 Flow and Plate Arrangement
“A”
Left Hand Flow
“B”
Right Hand Flow
SINCE 1981
6
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
Depending on the number of passes a plate heat exchanger may have, the connection location
may vary. Since all of the heat exchangers are parallel or same side ow, all connections for one
uid will be on the right side and the opposing uid on the left side.
The connection location and typical arrangement are as follows;
Each plate has a gasket that produces a sealing and channel system through the entire plate
pack in which the two heat exchanging media ow in a counter-current direction.
The circular portion of the gasket stops the uid from going across the heat transfer plate and
sends it to the next open channel. The remaining portion or eld gasket, directs the opposing
uid across the heat transfer surface.
An assembled unit must always have the plate chevron pattern rotated 180 degrees from plate
to plate.
The rst plate shall be double gasketed as shown on page 5.
Units with more than one pass will require special circular ring gaskets to seal the Back side of
the last thermal transfer plate to the inside of the moveable cover connections.
SINCE 1981
7
3.0 Installation
3.1 Lifting
The plate heat exchanger shall be lifted by the four lifting holes that are provided
( two in the xed cover and two in the moveable ).
3.2 Installation
The plate heat exchanger is to be mounted vertically on the oor with a level foundation and be
strong enough so no settling occurs that can cause a loading strain on the connections.
The heat exchanger must be Installed with clea-
rance on both sides for maintenance. Under spe-
cial circumstances these dimensions may be re-
duced but the servicing of the heat exchanger
may be compromised.
The foundation for the heat exchanger must be
level and rm enough that no settling occurs
which could put forces and strain on the piping
connected to it.
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
SINCE 1981
8
Before installing the piping to the heat exchanger, inspect all the ports for foreign debris that
could become lodged during operation.
All connections to the heat exchanger must be
provided with shut-off valves (F2,F3,M2,M3). The
upper connections must be provided with venting
devices at their highest points. The hot side re-
gulating valve must be installed in the feed pipe
between the pump and the shut off valve.
To prevent water hammer in the heat exchanger,
quick action valves should not be used.
Provide safety relief valves where the maximum
discharge pressure of the pump can exceed the
design pressure of the heat exchanger.
When the plate heat exchanger is installed in a situation having zero tolerance for process uids
being on the oor, a liquid retaining drip pan with a volume capacity equal to the heat exchanger
shall be mounted under the plate pack to catch and control any leaking uids.
Pumps should have throttling valves and vibration dampers shall be used on positive displace-
ment pumps and especially reviprocating pumps.
For care free and dependable operation of the heat exchanger, avoid sudden pressure and/or
temperature surges.
3.2 Piping
The piping connected to the heat exchanger shall be designed and built so that it’s thermal expan-
sion and weight do not apply any force to the heat exchanger’s nozzle causing premature failure.
Any forces or moments applied to the connections of the heat exchanger must be approved by
Flo Fab
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
SINCE 1981
9
PLATE AND FRAME - HEAT EXCHANGERS
The following shows typical connections available on the heat exchangers;
Threaded - NPT
Carbon Steel
Studded - ANSI
Carbon Steel
Threaded - NPT
Alloy Nozzle
Studded - ANSI
Alloy Lining
Flanged-
ANSI
Ferrule-
Quick Disconnect
When the heat exchanger has connections on the moveable cover there are special piping
• The moveable cover is not xed so it’s
nozzles can withstand less loading than the
nozzles on the xed cover.
• The unit may be subject to re-tightening
during service, therefore when attaching
piping to the moveable cover you must
allow for this difference
(approximately plus or minus 1% of nal
tightening dimension).
• The moveable cover goes backward for
servicing. Use elbowed spool pieces for
easy removal.
This manual suits for next models
13
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