🔍 Key Concepts

• Plate type heat exchanger construction – many thin plates clamped between a fixed and movable frame plate • Even compression of plate pack – gaskets seal properly only when plates are tightened uniformly to a specified overall dimension • Bolt tightening sequence – importance of an opposing/diagonal pattern when using tie bolts on frames or exchangers

💭 Think About

• Look at how the plates are stacked and how the frame is held together in the illustration: what is the main thing that can go wrong if you tighten one side more than the other? • Which option describes a procedure that is unique and critical to plate‑type exchangers, rather than a general “good practice” for any bolted joint? • If the plates are not compressed correctly, what happens to gasket sealing and plate alignment, and which choice addresses that risk most directly?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check which choice mentions controlling the total compression distance of the plate pack, something manufacturers specify in millimeters or inches • Identify the option that specifies an opposing/diagonal tightening pattern to keep the movable frame plate parallel to the fixed plate • Confirm from the illustration and your knowledge whether the plates are typically stainless steel rather than aluminum, and whether “fracturing the backing plate” is a normal primary concern when tightening these units