Plate evaporators consist of alternating liquid and steam plates, assembled in a manner similar to the plate heat exchangers. The difference between the two systems is that in the plate evaporators, the heating medium is saturated steam, while hot water or hot liquid stream is used for heating in the plate heat exchangers. In addition, plate evaporators are designed to handle evaporating liquid films and vapors produced during evaporation, which are separated in a vapor/liquid separator. Two principal types of plate evaporators are used: rising/falling and falling systems. The plate evaporators use special elastomer gaskets, which can withstand steam temperatures up to 120 degree C, and withstand normal vacuum operation, with boiling temperatures 40-95 degree C.

Plate fin heat exchangers consist of a block of alternating layers of corrugated fins. The layers are separated from each other by parting sheets, and sealed along the edges by means of sidebars. In most plate fin-exchangers, the central effective length of the block consists of fining laid parallel to the block axis, to give true counter flow heat exchange among the streams. These direct the flow to gaps in the side bars so as to connect the heat transfer passages with the headers and nozzles, which are welded onto the outside of the block. Large plate fin heat exchangers are made of aluminum and can be up to 1.2m wide, 1.2m deep and 6.2m long. They are most frequently used in low temperature applications, where they give the benefit of a multi-stream capability, ensuring that all the cold streams produced in a process can be used to cool the incoming warm streams.

Plate flange is a rib or rim for strength, for guiding, or for attachment to another object. Plate flanges are a widely accepted and cost effective alternative to forged or cast flanges in low-pressure applications. It is generally categorized as blind, slip-on, reducing, threaded, socket weld, angle face and studding outlet. Angle face ring flange is a standard plate flange with a raised face and inside diameter chamfer.