The use of plate heat exchange equipment for winemaking

In the winemaking process heat exchange equipment is used at all stages of the process, such as for processing grapes, mash, to accelerate the maturation of wines. It used for specialized types of wines, as well as filling and in the production of sparkling wine - in preparing the fermentation mixture, the secondary fermentation, bottling of the finished champagne, the stabilization of brandies, to accelerate maturation of brandy spirits.

This is because the heating and cooling, as purely physical methods of impact on the wine, not associated with the introduction into it of other, not peculiar substances. On the other hand, these techniques cause the complex physics-chemical and biochemical processes, many of which are similar to the processes taking place during maturation and aging of wine in the wild. For all these technological stages, heat transfer equipment of various types is used, and, in the first place - frame plate heat exchangers.

Heat transfer surface of the plate heat exchanger consists of a set of plates with seals, pairs of lines for the passage of fluids. Pack plates secured between the stationary and the pressure plate and hermetically tightened bolts.


Figure 1: Construction of one-section plate heat exchanger

The plates are assembled into the package through many contact points, thus ensuring resistance of the design to high pressure. Corrugation pattern of the plates enhances turbulence, and reduces the probability of sediments on the plate surface. The minimum temperature difference between heating medium inlet and outlet can be 1 ° C, which is particularly valuable for the section of regeneration in the pasteurization equipment.

Package can consist of plates with different corrugation patterns.
Plates with horizontally oriented profile characterized by high heat transfer rates with relatively large pressure differences, whereas for a plate with a vertically oriented profiles are characterized by small variations in pressure with less heat transfer rates.

Combining the horizontal and vertical profiles can obtain the optimal values of hydraulic resistance and heat transfer coefficients.
Large variety of types of plates makes effective use of plate heat exchangers for different processes.

How Heat Transfer Works

Heat transfer occurs when there is a difference in temperature between two mediums. Heat will travel from the hot source to the cold source. The rate at which the heat transfer occurs at is determined by many factors such as the heat conductivity of the two materials andthe difference in temperatures of the two mediums. Convectiuve heat transfer occurs when the materials are moving against each other.

Plate heat exchangers have significantly good heat transfer rates because they use metal plates which have high heat conductivity rates and the plates are extremely thin. The plate heat exchangers also achieve high amounts of heat transfer through convective forces with both working fluids. With large temperature differentials, great amounts of heat transfer can be achieved using a plate heat exchanger.

Compact heat exchangers

Brazed plate heat exchangers designed for use in a variety of liquid-to-liquid heat transfer applications, where reliable, efficient and compact heat exchangers are needed. Compact brazed plate heat exchangers can be flexibly used in most types of heating systems, including radiant floor heating, radiator system, tap water system, and other sanitary water applications.