May Chapter Meeting – How to properly specify and design plate and frame heat exchangers
May 6 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
We’re excited to invite you to an insightful lunch meeting featuring Tracey Putnam, a seasoned expert in heat exchanger technology and energy efficiency. This event is perfect for engineers, designers, and HVAC professionals looking to deepen their understanding of plate and frame heat exchanger design and optimization.
About the Speaker: Tracey Putnam
With a degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University, Tracey Putnam brings a wealth of knowledge and over two decades of experience in process engineering and HVAC solutions. Her career began as a process engineer, giving her firsthand expertise in equipment procurement, operator training, and commissioning.
Tracey spent nine years at Alfa Laval as an applications engineer, focusing on energy efficiency and technology conversion in the Petrochemical and Refining industries. Since 2010, her focus has been on comfort cooling, where she educates the engineering community on optimizing plate heat exchanger performance, reducing maintenance needs, and lowering total cost of ownership.
What You’ll Learn
Designing a plate and frame heat exchanger may seem straightforward, but fluid mechanics and proper design parameters play a crucial role in performance and energy efficiency. Tracey will share her expertise on:
- Basic heat transfer theory
- The impact of temperature approach on heat exchanger size and cost
- How hydraulic design affects performance, fouling, and total cost of ownership
- AHRI standards: What they are and when to apply them
An improperly designed heat exchanger can lead to inefficiencies across the entire HVAC system. This session will empower you to look beyond initial costs and focus on long-term efficiency and value.