Free Flow plate heat exchangers | Sondex/Danfoss | Philippopoulos s.a.
Free Flow plate heat exchangers | Sondex/Danfoss | Philippopoulos s.a.

Free Flow plate heat exchangers | Sondex/Danfoss

SONDEX® / Danfoss Free Flow Plate Heat Exchangers

Free flow heat exchangers are utilized when the medium is unsuitable for conventional plate heat exchangers with narrow channels. The plate geometry creates a larger flow gap, without contact points in the channel, minimizing the risk of clogging in fluids with fibers, solids, pulp, or increased fouling tendencies.

Typical Media and Applications

Suitable for:

  • juices with pulp, alcoholic and dairy products,
  • sugar solutions and cane juice,
  • wastewater, biogas, paper pulp, and cellulosic streams,
  • industrial heat recovery from contaminated process waters.

Technical Selection Criteria

Selection is based on flow rate, viscosity, solids content, allowable pressure drop, and temperature program. Available configurations include connections DN25–DN500, plate gaps 5–12 mm, flow rates up to 1,600 m³/h, operating pressure up to 10 bar, and temperatures from -20 °C to 180 °C.

Materials and Gaskets

Plates are available in AISI 304/316, titanium, SMO, and Hastelloy, depending on the chemical composition and corrosiveness of the medium. Gaskets are selected in EPDM-HT, NBR-HT, or Viton, according to temperature, pH, oils, organic loads, and cleaning schedule.

Standards and Maintenance

Frames are designed according to PED 2014/68/EU, EN 13445, and ASME Section VIII Div. 1. The demountable construction allows opening of the plate pack for inspection, mechanical cleaning, and gasket replacement. In fouling fluids, monitoring pressure drop is a key indicator for cleaning scheduling.

FAQ

When is free flow selected? When fibers, particles, high viscosity, or frequent fouling are present.

Does it always replace conventional plate types? No. In clean water or closed HVAC circuits, conventional types may offer smaller volume and lower cost.

What data is required for sizing? Flow rates, inlet/outlet temperatures, operating pressure, media composition, solids, viscosity, and pressure drop limits.

Datasheet and documents

Description

Our SONDEX® Free Flow plate heat exchangers are excellent choices for applications that use media with particle-rich contents, fouling tendency, or high viscosity. We customize each Free Flow heat exchanger to suit your application and media type. The contact-free plate channels ensure an unimpeded flow and long intervals between cleaning.

We set the new standard for improved performance and reliability when your media require gentle treatment and are unsuitable for regular heat exchangers due to viscosity, fouling tendency, or particle contents.

Features and benefits

  • Gentle treatment and even distribution of the media provide the highest possible product output quality.
  • High heat transfer efficiency and extended intervals between cleaning ensure operation for an entire campaign with minimum downtime and maximum value for money.
  • Large plate gap designed to counteract fouling with sizeable plate channels and no stagnant zones.

Applications

  • Dairy/food/beverage industry

         - e.g. food production, like juice and alcohol processing

  • Sugar industry

         - e.g. sugar production, such as concentration of sugar content in sugarcane juice

  • Biogas industry
  • Wastewater industry
  • Pulp and paper industry
  • Mining industry

Technical specifications

  • Connections from DN25 to DN500 (1” to 20”)
  • Frames designed according to FEA and PED 2014/68/EU (EN13445) and ASME sec VIII, Div. 1 construction standards
  • Plate materials: AISI 304/316, titanium, SMO, Hastelloy*
  • Gasket materials: EPDM-HT, NBR-HT, Viton*
  • Plate heights up to 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
  • Flow rates up to 1,600 m3/h (7,045 gpm)
  • Plate gap from 5 to 12 mm (0.2” to 0.5”)
  • Working pressure up to 10 bar (145 psi)
  • Working temperatures from -20 °C to 180 °C (-4 °F to 356 °F)

*other materials available upon request

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SONDEX® Free flow patterns

The SONDEX® Free Flow pattern is designed to treat media that is unsuitable for regular heat exchangers due to high viscosity, fiber and particle contents, or considerable risk of fouling.