As a specialist fully welded plate heat exchanger manufacturer in China, Shanghai Jiangxing supplies gasket-free welded plate units for applications where the duty conditions exceed the limits of conventional gasketed designs.
What Is a Fully Welded Plate Heat Exchanger?
A fully welded plate heat exchanger is a thermal solution where stainless steel or alloy plates are laser-welded together to form a permanent plate pack. Unlike gasketed designs, this removes the need for elastomer seals and is well-suited to aggressive, toxic or high-temperature fluids where gasket materials would degrade.
When Should You Use a Welded vs. Gasketed Exchanger?
A fully welded plate heat exchanger is typically selected when the duty conditions exceed the material limits of available gaskets, when aggressive chemicals, solvents or refrigerants like ammonia are incompatible with standard gasket materials, or when a permanently sealed plate pack is preferred. Selection and the allowable pressure/temperature envelope depend on plate material, weld/core geometry, shell/frame design, code route and the confirmed duty.
What are the key features from a manufacturer's perspective?
From a manufacturing standpoint, the laser welding process joins the plates into a rigid pack and removes the elastomer temperature and chemical compatibility limits of gasketed designs. Material selection — 316L, titanium or 254 SMO — is matched to the process fluid. Accessible bolted-head arrangements allow chemical cleaning-in-place (CIP) while the welded core remains sealed.
What industries use fully welded plate heat exchangers?
Fully welded plate heat exchangers are used in demanding industries where the duty calls for a gasket-free construction. Common applications include oil and gas refining interchangers and coolers, chemical processing of corrosive media, and power generation and district heating systems with high-temperature steam or water. Shanghai Jiangxing custom-engineers units to the confirmed duty and design code.
Why choose Shanghai Jiangxing as your manufacturer?
Shanghai Jiangxing is a China-based manufacturer specializing in custom thermal solutions. We combine design and fabrication techniques with local supply-chain advantages. Our fully welded heat exchangers are engineered to the specific project requirements; the requested code route, inspection/NDE scope and documents must be reviewed and confirmed in writing for the order.
Frequently asked questions
Are fully welded plate heat exchangers cleanable?
Yes. While they cannot be mechanically disassembled like gasketed units, fully welded heat exchangers are designed to be cleaned-in-place (CIP). By circulating specialized cleaning chemicals, fouling and scale can be effectively removed to restore thermal performance without compromising the welded seals.
What are the pressure and temperature limits of your welded exchangers?
The allowable pressure and temperature envelope are set by the plate material, weld and core geometry, shell/frame design, code route and the confirmed duty. Send your process conditions and code requirement for a project-specific rating.
What is the advantage of a welded plate exchanger over a shell and tube?
Compared to a shell and tube exchanger for a similar duty, a fully welded plate heat exchanger offers much higher thermal efficiency, a significantly more compact footprint, and a lower fluid volume. This saves space, reduces energy consumption, and provides a closer temperature approach.
Can you handle ammonia refrigeration applications?
Fully welded plate heat exchangers are a common choice for ammonia refrigeration because the gasket-free construction avoids gasket compatibility and elastomer failure concerns. They can be used as condensers, evaporators and oil coolers in ammonia plants when the material and operating envelope are verified for the specific duty.
Send your working conditions to Blair
Share your medium, temperatures, flow rate and pressure — Blair will return a thermal selection and indicative pricing after reviewing the available data.