Alfa Laval
Welded Spiral Heat Exchanger
Alfa Laval's welded spiral heat exchangers are fully welded, single-channel units in which each fluid follows one continuous spiral passage. That geometry creates a self-cleaning effect, because any deposit locally accelerates the flow, which scours it away. They are purpose-built for fouling fluids, slurries, sludges and fibrous media that would quickly plug conventional exchangers.
Product Benefits
- SelfClean single channel: The single-channel flow geometry is the core argument: with only one path through the unit, the fluid cannot bypass a fouling deposit, so velocity rises over it and flushes it out.
- Fewer cleaning stops: Plants running dirty or fibrous media see far fewer cleaning stops than with multi-channel or tubular alternatives.
- Fully welded, no gaskets: The fully welded construction eliminates interplate gaskets, suiting the unit to wide temperature spans and demanding pressures, including deep-vacuum condensing service.
- Proven worldwide: A delivery record of tens of thousands of units worldwide underlines how well the concept has been proven.
Where It's Used
- Demanding fouling duties: Typical services are demanding liquid-to-liquid duties and two-phase condensing and evaporation, wherever the media foul.
- Refinery, sludge and slurry: That means hydrocarbon streams in refineries and petrochemical plants, sludges in wastewater treatment, and slurries in mining and minerals processing.
- SpiralPro configuration: SpiralPro handles liquid-to-liquid and steam-heater duties.
- SpiralCond configuration: SpiralCond is arranged for vacuum condensing and evaporation, including column-top mounting, and the units can be stacked to reach very large surface areas.
Good to Know
- Engineered per duty: Both variants share the fully welded spiral body and are engineered for the specific duty, covering a wide temperature range and pressures from full vacuum upward.
- Generous differential pressure: The design allows generously for differential pressure between the two sides.
- Access for cleaning: Access covers open the spiral channels for mechanical cleaning when needed.
- Place the dirty side well: Selection starts from the fouling character of the fluids: put the dirtier medium in the channel where the self-cleaning effect and cleaning access serve it best.
- Discuss condensing early: For condensing duties, raise SpiralCond's mounting arrangements early, as direct column-top installation can simplify vacuum piping considerably.
