Accu-Therm plate heat exchangers are designed to provide you worry-free, highly efficient heat transfer whether you are processing simple fluids, viscous solutions, or particulates. Accu-Therm plate heat exchangers are available in an extensive range of sizes, alloys, and frame configurations to meet your exact needs.
Accu-Therm Features and Benefits
High Efficiency Heat Transfer Performance
The embossed pattern of the Mueller Accu-Therm plate heat exchanger plates promotes high turbulence at low fluid velocities. This turbulence results in very high heat transfer coefficients. “U” values of 2,000 or more are common.
Reduced Fouling
The Accu-Therm plate heat exchanger’s high turbulence, uniform fluid flow, and the smooth plate surface reduce fouling and the need for frequent cleaning.
Compact Size
Because of the high thermal efficiency and high surface density, the Mueller Accu-Therm requires 1/5 to 1/2 of the floor space of other types of equivalent duty heat transfer equipment. You can also service and maintain the plate heat exchanger in the same area it occupies when in operation.
Lower Cost
Plate heat exchangers are generally more economical than other types of equivalent duty heat exchangers due to the higher thermal efficiency and lower manufacturing cost of plate heat exchangers.
Easy to Clean and Inspect
By simply removing the compression bolts and sliding away the moveable end frame, you can visually inspect every square inch of the Accu-Therm heat transfer surface. The unit also lends itself to easy and economical clean-in-place (CIP) procedures because the amount of retained liquid is very low.
True Counterflow
In the plate heat exchanger, fluids flow in opposite directions, resulting in greater effective temperature differences. This reduces the amount of heat transfer surface required.
Close Approach Temperatures
An important factor in regeneration and heat recovery applications is the approach temperatures of the heat transfer media. In the Accu-Therm very close approach temperatures of 1°F to 2°F are possible because of the true counterflow and high heat transfer efficiency of the plates.
Multiple Duties with a Single Unit
It is possible to heat or cool two or more fluids within the same Accu-Therm unit by simply installing intermediate divider sections between the heat transfer plates. This saves you floor space and plumbing costs.
Lightweight
The Accu-Therm is lighter in total weight than other types of heat exchangers because of reduced liquid volume and less surface area for a given application. This allows for the Accu-Therm installation to be closer to your heating and cooling needs.
Expandable
The expandable feature of the Accu-Therm protects your investment. If your heat transfer requirements change, your Accu-Therm unit will not become obsolete. Instead, you can adjust the unit’s thermal performance by releasing the compression bolts, rolling back the end frame, and adding or removing plates.
High Viscosity Applications
Because the Accu-Therm induces turbulence at low fluid velocities, it has practical application for high viscosity fluids.
Cross Contamination Eliminated
In the Accu-Therm unit, each medium is individually gasketed. The space between gaskets is vented to atmosphere, eliminating the possibility of any cross contamination of fluids. This feature makes the Accu-Therm especially ideal for applications where product contamination cannot be tolerated.
“Free-Flow” Plate Heat Exchangers
Mueller also offers the expandable, lightweight Accu-Therm “Free-Flow” plate heat exchanger, which features a clever heat transfer plate designed with a more open fluid-flow channel, making it ideal for viscous products, slurries, and effluent streams that contain particles and fibers which can block the flow channels and plug up conventional heat exchangers. Each medium is individually gasketed in the “Free-Flow” plate heat exchanger, making it ideal for applications where product contamination cannot be tolerated. In addition, these compact units are easy to disassemble and clean, which means less down-time and cost during maintenance.
