Alfa Laval reports that the new T50 model is the largest plate heat exchanger it has ever built, standing 4.5 metres high, weighing 30 tonnes and with a flow rate capacity of up to 975kg/second

Alfa Laval says its new T50 model is the largest Plate Heat Exchanger it has ever built. Standing 4.5 metres high, weighing 30 tonnes and with a flow rate capacity of up to 975kg/second, the monster unit is ideal for central cooling systems in petrochemical refineries, chemical plants and off-shore oil and gas platforms. In common with all Alfa Laval Plate Heat Exchangers, the T50 consists of a pack of plates stamped with a special pattern which, once assembled, form channels through which two fluids flow in counter-current to each other, exchanging heat in the process.

The corrugations reinforce the plate structure against differential pressures and also promote turbulence in the fluids.

This, in turn, increases heat transfer efficiency and also serves to inhibit scaling and fouling on the channel walls.

The T50 has a new plate system that improves heat exchanger performance for large cooling requirements.

The system enables three basic plates (low-theta, medium-theta and high-theta) to be combined in five different channel arrangements for specific temperature programmes.

The T50 can be supplied with plates in stainless steel or titanium, nitrile or EPDM gaskets and with connections to DIN or ASME standards.

Each plate provides 3.5 m2 of heat transfer surface meaning a complete unit can provide a massive 2880 square metres of heat transfer surface.

In addition, the exchanger portholes are 500 mm diameter, making it ideal for the cooling of large industrial processes.