Alfa Laval Compabloc condenser solves problems in Belgian dichloroethane plant
When their graphite shell-and-tube heat exchanger cracked and began to leak, engineers at the SolVin NV plant in Zandvliet Belgium took the opportunity not just to replace the old unit but to improve the overall design and safety of the plant by replacing it with a Compabloc welded heat exchanger from Alfa Laval.
DATE 2023-11-28
This exchanger is used as a condenser to treat waste gas in a line producing dichloroethane. This part of the process is cyclic in nature. The temperature cycling resulted in the Belgian dichloroethane plant Compabloc condensers solves problem Case story cracking of the graphite in the original shell-and-tube exchanger, which was an environmental risk.
Although SolVin’s engineers did consider direct replacement with similar shell-and-tube, Compabloc heat exchangers from Alfa Laval offered a compact, cheaper alternative that also promised to be less expensive and easier to maintain.
Product
The Compabloc welded heat exchanger is probably the most compact and efficient heavy-duty heat exchanger in the world.
Solution
The risk of cracking and the potential for environmental problem have been eliminated.