Alfa Laval AlfaVap Semi-Welded Gasketed Plate-and-Frame Heat Exchanger

Applications 

• Biotech and Pharmaceutical 
• Chemical s 
• Energy and Utilities 
• Food and Beverages 
• Water and Waste Treatment

Design 

AlfaVap is a semi-welded heat exchanger, i.e plate pack has gasket sealed cassettes of two plates that are welded together. The fluid is concentrated in the gasketed channel while the steam passes through the welded channel. These units are ideal for when two media have a very small temperature difference as it allows for use of a lower grade steam. In most cases, this means cutting energy costs. 

The plate pattern generating high turbulence over the whole plate is specifically designed to optimize evaporation. This maximizes the heat transfer efficiency while minimizing fouling and scaling. 

Due to the plate-and-frame design with tightening bolts and pressure plate rollers, AlfaVap is easily accessible for inspection and mechanical cleaning. A low hold-up volume allows for using only a small amount of cleaning chemicals when running a cleaning-in-place (CIP) procedure. 

The design is made for easy adjustment to changed capacity needs and plate cassettes can easily be added or removed to the existing frame. The flexibility is a major advantage over shell-and-tube units not allowing for capacity adaptations after installation. 

AlfaVap means trouble-free maintenance and a long-service life. Glue-free clip on gaskets, pressure plate holder, bearing boxes and the Five-point alignment system makes opening and closing easy, quick and very safe – both in terms of not damaging the plate pack, but also for the personnel. 

Benefits 

• Low hold-up volume – quick start-up and shut down as well as fast process control. 
• High energy efficiency – low operating cost 
• Easy to install – compact design
• High serviceability – easy to open for inspection and cleaning and easy to clean by CIP 
• Access to Alfa Laval’s global service network 

Features 

• Enhanced Thermal Efficiency; Requires much less heat transfer area compared to a traditional shell-and-tube evaporators. 
• Operating Flexibility; low temperature differential operation with effectiveness as low as 2.5°C (4.5°F). It also allows the use of a lower grade steam and enables more effects in a series in an evaporation system. 
• Compact design and versatility; making it high suitable for installations at high elevations. Evaporation capacities can be adjusted by adding or removing plates unlike fixed-capacity shell-and-tube units. 
• Ease of maintenance and Cleaning-In-Place; simple remove of tightening bolts and rolling back the pressure plates for maintenance and requiring a small amount of cleaning chemicals due to low hold-up volume.