Industrial refrigeration systems, especially those used in large-scale food processing and automated production lines, require heat exchangers that can respond quickly to changing thermal loads while maintaining reliable operation. Plate heat exchangers and plate & shell heat exchangers are commonly used as evaporators, condensers, and sub coolers in refrigeration systems. Due to their compact structure and high heat transfer efficiency, plate heat exchangers are often selected for systems that require fast response to load changes. The smaller internal volume also reduces the amount of refrigerant required within the system.

As the industry moves toward more environmentally friendly refrigerants, large food processing facilities are increasingly adopting transcritical CO₂ and cascade refrigeration systems. These systems operate under significantly higher pressures than conventional refrigeration systems, which exceeds the limitations of many gasketed heat exchangers. Plate & shell heat exchangers use a fully welded plate pack enclosed inside a pressure-resistant shell. The gasket-free structure provides reliable operation under high-pressure conditions while maintaining the efficient turbulent heat transfer characteristics of plate designs.