AlfaVap

Alfa Laval AlfaVap semi-welded heat exchangers are tailor-made, rising film plate evaporators and are suitable when concentration and viscosity of media are high. Typical applications for AlfaVap are sugar refinery evaporation systems, sweeteners evaporation systems, bioethanol and caustic evaporation. It is also suitable as a thermosiphon reboiler. Its compact design makes it ideal to install at elevated levels.

阿法拉伐AlfaVap半焊接换热器-Alfa Laval AlfaVap semi-welded heat exchanger

Unique design for thermal efficiency

Alfa Laval’s AlfaVap unique design provides higher thermal efficiency than the traditional shell-and-tube evaporators and because of this much less heat transfer area is needed. AlfaVap heat exchangers are cost-efficient especially when exotic metal materials are required.

AlfaVap’s advantage is that they work also when the temperature differential between the hot and cold fluids approaches as low as 2.5°C (4.5°F) meaning that lower grade steam and more effects in series can be use in an evaporation system compared to the shell-and-tube systems. This saves steam costs.

Compact design and versatility

The compact design and versatility of the AlfaVap means that they are cost-efficient and easily installed even at high elevations.

AlfaVap heat exchangers are easily accessible for inspection and mechanical cleaning by removing the tightening bolts and rolling back the pressure plate.  For Cleaning-in-Place (CIP), only a small amount of cleaning chemicals is needed because of their low hold-up volume.

AlfaVap’s design makes it easy to adjust evaporation capacity to meet changing needs by adding or removing plates to the existing frame. This is a major advantage over shell-and-tube units where the capacity cannot be changed once it’s installed.

Equipped with well-designed features, the AlfaVap heat exchangers are easy to maintain and have a long service life. They feature a clip-on gasket which is a glue free gasket that ensures perfect sealing and trouble-free maintenance.  Additionally, the pressure plate roller, the bearing boxes on tightening bolts, and the 5 point alignment system with reinforced hangers make opening and closing the heat exchanger quick and easy without the need for heavy tools or the risk of damaging the plates.

Peace of mind

Alfa Laval global service network is never far away. 

Benefits

  • Low hold-up volume 
  • High energy efficiency
  • Easy to install
  • High serviceability 
  • Access to Alfa Laval’s global service network

How it works

The heat transfer area of a gasketed plate-and-frame heat exchanger consists of a series of corrugated plates, assembled between the frame and pressure plates, which retain the design pressure. The sealing between the plates on the AlfaVap alternates between laser welds and gaskets.  Alfa Laval AlfaVap is tailor-made for evaporation. It has two inlet feed connections located centrally at the bottom of the frame plate and a large outlet for the vapour and concentrate at the top. The heating steam condenses in the welded channels and the evaporating product passes through the gasketed channels.