Q1: How does the temperature difference affect the performance of a plate heat exchanger?
A: A larger temperature difference between the hot and cold fluids generally leads to a higher heat transfer rate. However, extreme temperature differences may cause thermal stress on the plates and gaskets, so it is important to operate within the recommended temperature range for the particular exchanger.
Q2: Are plate heat exchangers energy-efficient?
A: Yes, they are highly energy-efficient due to their high heat transfer coefficients. This means that less energy is required to achieve the desired heat transfer compared to some other types of heat exchangers, resulting in potential cost savings in heating, cooling, or other thermal processes.