AlfaCheck provides constant monitoring of PHEs

All heat exchangers are affected by wear and tear and fouling which diminish performance over time. To overcome this problem and help users of its plate heat exchangers obtain and maintain optimum performance, Alfa Laval has introduced AlfaCheck monitoring services for exchangers employed in liquid-to-liquid applications.

AlfaCheck monitors the condition of one or several plate heat exchangers, so that cleaning and service can be carried out as efficiently as possible. Maintenance is based on a heat exchanger’s current condition rather than just how much time has passed since it was last checked. That is why it gives customers higher efficiency, lower operating costs and greater peace of mind. Because, instead of deciding to clean or service the heat exchanger when performance starts to drag, the customer chooses the time that best suits production and maintenance schedules.

AlfaCheck links temperature and flow gauges to a portable computer equipped with a sophisticated thermal analysis programme. This programme is pre-loaded with the correct operating parameters for every Alfa Laval Plate Heat Exchanger. Once connected close to the hot and cold inlets and outlets, the system measures and records temperature differentials and flow rates and compares them with the benchmark values stored in the computer.

A visual display then indicates the heat exchanger’s current status using a simple traffic light system: green for high performance; yellow for medium performance and red for low performance - an indication that urgent cleaning is required.

As more checks are carried out, AlfaCheck builds a performance chart detailing temperature differences, potential energy losses and local energy costs, enabling the operator to make informed choices when it comes to organizing cleaning and servicing intervals.

More press information from Alfa Laval Ltd. Peter Rose, Marketing Manager

Tel: 01276 413632
Fax: 01276 413524

E-mail: general.uk@alfalaval.com

Web: www.alfalaval.co.uk