A plate type fresh water generator works by utilizing a plate heat exchanger to produce fresh water from seawater. Here are the basic steps of how it works.

First, Seawater is drawn into the generator and pumped through a plate heat exchanger, which is a series of stacked metal plates that are separated by small spaces. Hot fluid, such as engine cooling water, is also circulated through the plate heat exchanger in a separate channel.

The heat is transferred from the hot fluid to the seawater through the metal plates of the heat exchanger. This causes the seawater to be heated and evaporated. Then, the evaporated seawater rises and condenses on a separate surface, which is usually a set of cooler plates. This process produces fresh water, which is then collected and stored for use. The remaining concentrated seawater, which is now denser due to the removal of freshwater, is discharged back into the ocean.

Plate type fresh water generators are highly efficient because they use the waste heat from other systems on board the ship to heat the seawater, reducing the energy required for the process. They are also compact and require less space compared to other freshwater generators, making them a popular choice for marine vessels.