The Eurovent Certified Performance (ECP) programme scope for Liquid-to-Liquid Plate Heat Exchangers (LPHE), applies to all ranges of plate heat exchangers designed for liquid/liquid heat exchange (without phase change), whether it is co-current or counter-current, in the frame of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) applications.
The product types covered by the LPHE certification are the following:
For the full programme scope and exclusions please view the Technical Certification Rules. The detailed scope is specified in OM-25.
For the LPHE programme, the certify-all requirement as defined in the Certification Manual is not applicable.
Liquid-to-liquid plate heat exchangers are designed to transfer thermal energy (sensible or total) from one liquid to another, passively, without any moving parts. They can be used for a range of HVAC applications to directly or indirectly serve either the heating, cooling or tap water system in any kind of building.
This type of heat exchanger consists of parallel plates separating two single phase fluids (liquids). Heat transfer surfaces (the plates) are enclosed in a casing, with heat exchanged between the separate liquids via convection. The liquids do not mix. Under the LPHE programme, liquid-to-liquid plate heat exchangers are certified under the product types brazed plate heat exchanger, fusion-bonded plate heat exchanger and gasketed plate heat exchanger.
Brazed plate heat exchanger
A brazed plate heat exchanger consists of a pack of thin corrugated metal plates. A thin foil of brazing material (generally copper) brazes two adjacent plates together as it melts in a high temperature furnace. The melted foil also seals the channel formed between two plates. In order to retain high internal pressure, two thicker front and end plates are normally brazed to both sides of the plate pack. Connections for media are either brazed or welded to the front plate.
Fusion-bonded plate heat exchanger
A fusion-bonded plate heat exchanger consists of a pack of thin corrugated metal plates. The sealing principle is the same as for brazed plate heat exchanger, except that the brazing material is replaced by a filler material that “bonds” two adjacent plates together instead of “brazing” them.
Gasketed plate heat exchanger
A “plate and frame” or “gasketed” heat exchanger consists of a pack of corrugated metal plates held together in a frame. Each plate is fitted with a gasket, which seals the channel formed between two adjacent plates and directs the fluid into alternate channels. The plate pack is assembled between a fixed frame plate (headpiece) and a movable pressure plate (tailpiece) and compressed by tightening bolts. The pressure plate is suspended from an upper carrying bar and guided by a lower guiding bar, both of which are fixed to a support column.
The following performance items are certified:
Find out how to apply for the Liquid-to-Liquid Plate Heat Exchanger programme.