The latest Stokvis Econoplate Bare Plate Series is ideal for situations where the specifier wants to take advantage of the manufacturer’s reputation for build quality and performance, but is seeking to utilize minimum control and other ancillary equipment.
The units are supplied with just the basic chassis and the customer’s specification for the number and size of plates, as well as its type and even gasket material. Unlike the more sophisticated ‘packaged’ ranges, there are no pumps, modulating valves or temperature sensors.
The applications where bare plate options are preferred include refurbishment contracts where the M&E consultant wants to isolate modern boilers from old heating circuits, or industrial processes where very hot water or steam are being generated. Also, in high rise buildings, the Econoplate bare plate heat exchangers can create a pressure break.
Beyond this the bare plate heat exchangers can also be supplied to exchange energy between different fluids, and have been used in specialist applications such as for the production of geothermal energy. Here the incoming water is likely to be saline and therefore highly corrosive so the standard austenitic stainless steel would be replaced by titanium for the manufacture of the plates themselves.
The bare plate models benefit from low thermal inertia, therefore optimizing speed of delivery and energy efficiency. As a solution for domestic hot water or process water, the variants also avoid the problems associated with the storage of hot water service, such as Legionella contamination.