What factors cause water to be unable to enter a plate heat exchanger?

A plate heat exchanger is typically composed of an outlet chamber, inlet chamber, main plate, and radiator core. Recently, many users have inquired about plate heat exchangers, and they have all raised a common issue: why does it sometimes feel like water cannot be added? Let's explore this together.

Plate heat exchangers have a simple structure and are cost-effective, with their performance continuously improving over time.

Sometimes, the issue is not that water cannot be added, but rather that it seems insufficient water has been added. The radiator may indicate that the water tank is full, but it soon shows a water shortage again, a phenomenon commonly referred to as "false full."

In most cases, both scenarios are caused by problems with the thermostat. Normally, when water is added, the small holes on the thermostat valve need to allow air to escape. If these holes become blocked, air cannot be vented properly, causing the water jacket to appear full before it is actually filled with cold water. To resolve this, the thermostat of the plate heat exchanger needs to be removed, and the blocked holes must be cleared. If the thermostat has failed, it should be replaced entirely.