Switch on to process heat on a plate
22 Aug 2000
In a simple yet ingenious variation on a well-known theme, Alfa Laval has turned its conventional plate heat exchanger into an electric process heater.
Called Platelec, this new unit looks just like a plate heat exchanger and features the same benefits of compact design and low weight. But the hot side of the exchanger consists of an electrical element buried in an aluminium block shaped exactly like a standard plate.
Since the electrical plate precisely matches the dimensions of a standard plate, it's very easy to insert the module into a conventional exchanger plate pack. The total energy input available can be altered by simply inserting the requisite number of electrical plates.
With the smallest unit, the V2 Platelec, one plate provides 3-5kW, while a pile of nine plates gives an output of 45kW. The largest V8 unit has a maximum output of 300kW generated from 15 electrical plates.
Irrespective of the model, maximum permissible product temperature is 180 degrees C with a 10bar maximum working pressure.
Alfa Laval says expected applications are as boilers, pasteurisers/sterilisers, thermocontrollers and evaporators in industries such as food and dairy, and chemical and pharmaceutical.
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