Plate & Gaskets | Data Sheets

Alfa Laval AQ1.

DATA SHEET

Alfa Laval AQ1

AlfaQ™ ARI-certified plate heat exchanger

General heating and cooling duties. Heating by means of steam.

Typical capacities

Liquid flow rate
Up to 80 GPM (5 kg/s), depending on media, permitted pressure drop and temperature program.

Frame types
FG

Standard Materials

Frame plate
Mild steel, painted

Nozzles
Pipe: AISI 316, Titanium

Plates
Stainless steel: AISI 316, Titanium

Gaskets
Nitrile, EPDM

Connections

FG – ASME Size 1¼" Pipe, thread NPT 1¼"

Technical Data

Mechanical design pressure/temperature
FG – ASME 150 psig / 200°F

Maximum heat transfer surface
3.9 m² (40 sq. ft)

DOWNLOAD

Ontario service representative for Armstrong Plate & Frame and Shell & Tube Exchangers.

Ontario service representative for Caron et files Custom Industrial Heat Exchangers, Heater Coils, Steam Unit Heaters

Ontario service representative for Bray Butterfly Valves, Bray Ball Valves, Bray Check Valves, Bray Knife Gate Valves, Bray Actuators – Electric, Manual & Pneumatic Solenoids

Ontario service representative for Puroflux line of Permanent Media Filters, Centrifugal Separators and Disc Filters.

Ontario service representative for Filter Solutions Inc. line of Magnetic Separators, Bag and Cartridge Housings and Wedge Wire Filters & Strainers.

Ontario service representative for REOTEMP Instruments line of Pressure Gauges, Bi-Metal Thermometers and RTDs

Ontario service representative for Clearstream Filters line of Self-Cleaning Indexing Media Filters and Custom Filter Bags

Ontario service representative for Xylem, Bell & Gossett Plate & Frame and Shell & Tube Exchangers. Ontario Service representative for TTP (API Heat Transfer Company) Oil Coolers.

Ontario Service representative for SWEP (A Dover Company) Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers.

Ontario Service representative for Kelvion Brazed Heat Exchangers, Plate & Frame Heat Exchangers, and Shell & Tube Heat Heat Exchangers.

Risks of Servicing PHEs That Have 0.4mm Thick Plates

Plate and frame heat exchangers (PHEs) with 0.4mm thick plates are designed for high efficiency in applications like HVAC, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. However, their thin plates make servicing challenging.

A key concern is: What are the risks of servicing PHEs that have 0.4mm thick plates?

Servicing these PHEs, if not done carefully, can lead to plate damage, leaks, or reduced performance, as noted by experts like Alfa Laval and Heat Exchanger Ontario. Understanding these risks is critical for effective maintenance.

Why Are 0.4mm Thick Plates Challenging?

Thin plates (0.4mm) in PHEs, often made of stainless steel or titanium, maximize heat transfer but are delicate, increasing vulnerability during servicing. Improper handling or cleaning methods can compromise their integrity, especially in high-pressure or corrosive environments.

Key Risks of Servicing PHEs with 0.4mm Thick Plates

Plate Damage from High-Pressure Cleaning: High-pressure water jetting, as used by Heat Exchanger Ontario with a 10 hp gas pressure washer, can dent or puncture 0.4mm plates if pressure exceeds safe limits (e.g., >2,500 bar), leading to leaks or cross-contamination.
Chemical Corrosion: Incompatible cleaning solutions, like ketones or overly aggressive acids, can corrode thin plates, reducing lifespan and causing pinholes.
Gasket Damage: Excessive tightening during reassembly or improper chemical exposure can degrade gaskets, causing leaks, a common issue.
Thermal or Mechanical Stress: Incorrect reassembly or uneven bolt tightening, as warned by T.H. Industrial Solutions, can warp thin plates, impairing sealing and heat transfer efficiency.
Fouling Recurrence: Incomplete cleaning, especially of scale or biofilms, can lead to persistent performance issues, increasing energy costs

Mitigation Strategies

Use CIP Systems: Clean-in-Place (CIP) methods, use controlled chemical flushing (e.g., citric acid for 6–8 hours) to minimize physical stress on 0.4mm plates.
Professional Expertise: Services from T.H. Industrial Solutions ensure proper pressure settings and compatible chemicals, reducing risks.
Regular Inspections: Dye penetrant testing, detects micro-cracks post-servicing to ensure plate integrity.
Environmental Compliance: Neutralize and dispose of chemical waste properly, to avoid regulatory issues.

When to Service PHEs with 0.4mm Plates

Service every 5–6 years or when differential pressure reaches 7–10 psi, indicating fouling, per T.H. Industrial Solutions. Routine maintenance prevents severe fouling, reducing the need for aggressive cleaning methods that risk damage.

Conclusion

Servicing PHEs with 0.4mm thick plates carries risks like plate damage, corrosion, and gasket failure, but these can be mitigated with careful methods and expertise. Industry leaders like T.H. Industrial Solutions offer specialized services to safely maintain these delicate systems. Trust professionals to protect your PHEs and ensure optimal performance.

WHEN SHOULD A PLATE & FRAME HEAT EXCHANGER BE SERVICED?

As a heat exchanger becomes fouled with dirt, debris or scale, often the modulating valve provides additional hot or cold liquid to help compensate for the loss of efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Over time the control valve will continue to open fully. Unfortunately, on the hottest or coldest days, even with the valve fully open the heat exchanger cannot meet the thermal transfer requirements and the situation becomes critical.

Monitoring just the operating temperature provides a false sense of security. Recording the difference in the outlet and inlet pressures provides a more accurate result of the amount of fouling.

Fouling equal to the thickness of a piece of paper represents a 20% loss of thermal efficiency. In addition, the energy cost for pumps increases since the pump must work harder to overcome the increased pressure resistance through the PHE

Can Double Wall PHEs Be Chemically Cleaned?

Double wall plate and frame heat exchangers (PHEs) are designed to prevent cross-contamination, making them essential for applications like potable water, food processing, and pharmaceuticals.

A common question is: Can double wall PHEs be chemically cleaned?

Yes, double wall PHEs can be effectively cleaned using chemical flushing or Clean-in-Place (CIP) methods, as confirmed by industry leaders like Heat Exchanger Ontario, ensuring efficiency and safety when performed by professionals.

What Are Double Wall PHEs?

Double wall PHEs feature two plates between fluid channels, providing a failsafe against leaks and cross-contamination, as noted by T.H. Industrial Solutions. This design ensures that if a plate develops a pinhole or crack, fluids remain separated, critical for potable water systems under municipal codes.

How Are Double Wall PHEs Chemically Cleaned?

Chemical cleaning methods for double wall PHEs include:

Clean-in-Place (CIP): Alfa Laval and Hofmann Heat Exchanger endorse CIP systems, which circulate non-toxic cleaning solutions like citric acid or Alfa P-Scale (sulphamic acid-based) to dissolve scale, for organic deposits like fats or biofilms, without disassembly.
Chemical Flushing: Heat Exchanger Ontario uses portable units with pumps and filters to circulate mild acid or citrus-based solutions for 6–8 hours, effectively removing debris, though less effective for hardened scale.
Post-Cleaning Rinse: After circulation, clean water flushes out residual chemicals and debris, followed by neutralization (e.g., using Alfa P-Neutra), ensuring environmental compliance.

Effectiveness of Chemical Cleaning

Chemical cleaning is highly effective for double wall PHEs because it:

Removes Fouling: Dissolves calcium carbonate, rust, and organic matter, restoring heat transfer efficiency and reducing pressure drops (7–10 psi indicates cleaning need), per T.H. Industrial Solutions.
Maintains Safety: Preserves the double wall’s protective barrier, critical for potable water
Minimizes Downtime: CIP cleaning, as offered by Hofmann Heat Exchanger, takes 6–8 hours without disassembly, ideal for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Limitations and Considerations

Hardened Scale: Severe fouling may require combining chemical cleaning with high-pressure water jetting
Material Compatibility: Chemicals must be compatible with plates (e.g., stainless steel) and gaskets to avoid corrosion
Environmental Compliance: Spent chemicals must be neutralized and disposed of per regulations
Professional Expertise: Services from T.H. Industrial Solutions ensure proper chemical selection and flow rates (e.g., 1 ft/sec).

When to Chemically Clean Double Wall PHEs

Chemical cleaning is recommended every 5–6 years or when differential pressure reaches 7–10 psi, indicating fouling. It’s ideal for routine maintenance in potable water or food systems, ensuring compliance with safety codes.

Conclusion

Double wall PHEs can be chemically cleaned using CIP or chemical flushing, effectively removing fouling while maintaining their anti-contamination design. Industry leaders like T.H. Industrial Solutions offer expert services to ensure efficiency and safety.

T.H. Industrial Solutions Inc. (THS) has been servicing industrial plate and frame heat exchangers as with shell and tube heat exchangers. Professionally solving process problems across Canada since 2009. THS head office is located in Pickering, Ontario with a 6,000 square foot service center in Hamilton, Ontario.

Today there are fewer qualified people in this industry that know the products and understand the applications. Utilizing hands on experience and knowledge that has been gained by our THS sales and service technicians for over the past 30 years, we will take the time to understand what you require and strive to provide a prompt, educated and accurate response at a competitive price.

Our Heat Exchanger Cleaning Services, along with heat exchanger gasket replacement systems, and knowledge of heat exchanger gasket materials make THS your Industrial Heat Exchanger Service Solution