Description

With over 30,000 units handling tough duties worldwide, Compabloc is the market champion when it comes to heat transfer. Laser-welded construction offers superior reliability in duties with aggressive media and high pressures and temperatures. Compabloc also offers 3-5 times the thermal efficiency of traditional shell-and-tube solutions, with a more compact design that is much easier to install and service. Discover how you can improve sustainability
  • Superior heat transfer and minimal fouling combine to give exceptional thermal efficiency and energy savings
  • Asymmetric flows handled easily with flexible flow configurations
  • Crossing temperatures in a single unit maximizes energy recovery and reduces power bills, and boosts your process performance
  • Fully 100% mechanically cleanable with no crevices that can cause corrosion issues
  • Laser-welded plates provide ultimate reliability
Alfa Laval Compabloc is a proven solution for efficient heat transfer in duties with tough media, pressure or temperature demands. It also comes with the backing of the only supplier with deep process knowledge and a global network of experienced experts. Energy-efficient and reliable technology, along with a partner you can count on for the long haul – that’s how you improve sustainability. . Meet our experts Improve your sustainability The champion of heat exchange The right support to improve sustainability 6 reasons to choose a champion Proven reliability People choose Alfa Laval Compablocs for one simple reason. They just work, and more than 30,000 units delivered is the proof. Our proven manufacturing and technical solutions lead to high reliability and a long working life. Many Compablocs that have been in continuous operation for decades are still delivering peak performance. A solution for improving sustainability Compabloc’s high thermal efficiency leads to higher heat recovery, lower boiler fuel consumption, and reduced CO2 emissions when Compablocs are used for heat recovery. Simplified maintenance for higher performance Minimized fouling allows Compabloc to operate with cleaning intervals substantially longer than traditional heat exchangers, reducing lifetime maintenance costs. It is also the only welded heat exchanger where all channels, both hot and cold, can be fully cleaned using a hydro jet, bringing performance back to 100% after every cleaning. Increased production and reduced installation costs Bottlenecks related to heating or cooling can often be resolved with more efficient heat exchangers. The compact size of a Compabloc enables you to pack much more performance into the same space, or free up space for other types of equipment. It also means lower installation costs. Payback in months High energy efficiency combined with low installation and maintenance costs means Compablocs offer much shorter payback times than other technologies, such as shell-and-tube or other types of welded plate heat exchangers. The equipment often pays for itself in a matter of months. Ready for any duty Compabloc is available in a wide range of sizes and is custom made to fit the specific operating and installation conditions. It can be made in virtually any material that can be pressed and welded. Applications Condensing duties Compabloc’s short flow path and large cross-flow area ensure low pressure drop and high efficiency, making it ideal for condensing duties. High heat transfer rates and low fouling, make Compabloc the best choice for long-term efficiency and consistent performance. As a result, Compabloc performs condensing duties 2-4 times more efficiently than traditional solutions. Vapour enters from the top of the unit and condenses on the cold plates as it passes through the plate pack, with condensate exiting at the bottom. If the vapour contains non-condensable gases, Alfa Laval can design a two-pass arrangement on the condensing side that permits gas/liquid separation inside Compabloc, eliminating any need for a separator unit. Condensation takes place primarily in the first pass. Sub-cooling of non-condensable gases is achieved in the second pass, which also serves as a mist eliminator. Liquid-to-liquid heating and cooling applications Performing at 3 to 5 times the efficiency of shell-and-tubes, Compabloc is perfectly placed as a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger (heater, cooler or interchanger). With the ability to handle crossing temperatures in a single unit, and a temperature approach as close as 3°C (5.4°F), Compabloc offers significant energy saving possibilities. Compabloc also handles asymmetric flows with ease thanks to its flexible flow configuration. Since this lightweight unit is installed vertically, installation problems are instantly solved. Compabloc as a reboiler High thermal efficiency, compact size, low static head, minimum fouling and easy cleaning make Compabloc the perfect reboiler. It can be used as a thermosiphon or forced circulation reboiler. Compabloc makes it easy to increase reboiler capacity, offering up to double the capacity of a traditional heat exchanger of the same size, and reducing the installation costs of the distillation tower. The compact size means the hold-up volume, and residence time, is very low compared to a traditional heat exchanger, reducing thermal degradation of the fluid. This makes starting the process quicker, with lower cost for out-of-spec process fluid. How it works . Sitting at the core of every Compabloc is a stack of corrugated heat-transfer plates made of stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant materials, laser welded alternately to form channels. The hot and the cold streams flow through alternate channels. Corrugated plates cause high turbulence, resulting in substantially higher heat transfer efficiency with a 50–80% smaller heat transfer area than comparable shell-and-tubes. Flow turbulence also reduces the build-up of fouling. The Compablocs unique plate design eliminates dead zones in the heat exchanger. The two flows in a Compabloc can be configured as single pass, or as multiple pass by using baffles. The number of passes on the hot and cold side can be chosen independently, making it possible to optimize heat transfer even if flow rates on the different sides differ greatly. This unique flexibility means the Compabloc is always optimized for exactly the required duty. The baffles are made to withstand full vacuum, and can be rearranged if design conditions are changed in the future. Compabloc units have a counter-current flow and can operate with a crossing temperature program (in a single unit), where the temperature approach is as close as 3°C (5.4°F), maximizing energy recovery. The small size and light weight makes it possible to install Compablocs anywhere, for instance at the top of distillation columns or suspended from support structures. Compabloc - 1-pass condenser Compabloc - 2-pass condenser Compabloc liquid-to-liquid Compabloc reboiler . Boost capacity and cut emissions Dow Wolff Cellulosics, Belgium, installed two Compabloc compact heat exchangers from Alfa Laval for different duties in one of the plant's solvent recovery columns. Go to story Less space. Lower costs. More heat recovery. An Asian petrochemical company that extracts benzene and toluene from an aromatic-rich stream wanted to increase production capacity, but space was limited. Go to story A refiner’s formula for energy efficiency In its efforts to continually implement sustainable practices in its operations, Petronas has invested in cutting-edge energy efficient technology. Go to story More case stories Petrochemicals 21 good years with Alfa Laval’s Compabloc – and counting.pdf 2019-04-08 1973 kB A resounding “yes” for Alfa Laval’s Compabloc.pdf 2019-04-08 145 kB Alfa Laval heat exchangers cut energy costs at India’s largest specialty chemicals plant.pdf 2019-04-08 185 kB Big is beautiful except for condensers.pdf 2019-04-08 602 kB C3R chiller condensers.pdf 2019-04-30 1260 kB Compabloc boosts capacity and cuts CO2 at Dow.pdf 2019-04-08 2164 kB Compabloc cuts steam consumption in aromatics plant .pdf 2019-04-08 166 kB Compabloc retrofit boosts solvent distillation capacity by 30% and cuts emissions by 80%.pdf 2019-04-08 1351 kB Crucial positions require compact solutions.pdf 2019-04-08 2126 kB Hot and cold water for free.pdf 2019-04-08 1456 kB How a small heat exchanger made a believer of Brazlilian giant.pdf 2019-07-09 191 kB Lean ethylene production.pdf 2019-04-08 1537 kB Lower costs. More heat recovery. Less space.pdf 2019-04-08 970 kB Quench water coolers.pdf 2019-04-30 669 kB Two-in-one solution for BASF.pdf 2019-04-08 217 kB Using process energy the smart way.pdf 2019-04-08 1106 kB Valuable heat no longer wasted.pdf 2019-04-08 1092 kB Fertilizers Compabloc saves energy in Ammonium Nitrate production.pdf 2019-04-08 2258 kB How to not let fouling bog you down.pdf 2019-04-08 161 kB Increased plant capacity and reduced maintenance at fertilizer plant.pdf 2019-04-08 196 kB Refinery A condenser and reboiler for the space age.pdf 2019-04-08 2674 kB Compabloc - a refiner’s formula for energy efficiency.pdf 2019-04-03 1059 kB Compablocs improve performance and eliminate corrosion at Brazilian oil refinery.pdf 2019-04-08 217 kB Compablocs recover energy at Canadian refinery.pdf 2019-04-08 2126 kB Lowering refinery emissions to one third of of federal requirements with Compabloc.pdf 2019-04-08 151 kB Other industries Compabloc condenser solved fouling problem at the Queensland Alumina plant.pdf 2019-04-08 244 kB Compabloc increases preheating efficiency in light oil recovery section.pdf 2019-04-08 211 kB Compabloc helps get the most out of biomass.pdf 2019-04-08 160 kB Swedish coke oven plant installs Alfa Laval Compabloc heat exchangers.pdf 2019-04-08 1434 kB . Unique features Compabloc is an unrivalled champion that stands out among other heat exchangers – including other bloc-type designs. It derives its uniqueness from our patented innovations, based on decades of experience in thermal transfer. Combined, these features lead to more reliable and efficient performance, helping you to save energy and improve your sustainability. C-weld™ Superior cleaning and extended performance End-to-end laser weld of the plates guarantees accessibility and protects against corrosion. Find out more SmartClean™ Fast and efficient flushing of fouling material Free-flow channel at plate boundaries secures efficient removal of fouling. Find out more XCore™ Advanced design for higher pressures A high-pressure, cleanable plate pattern that increases mechanical strength to improve thermal performance.''