Fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers
Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion bonding technology creates highly efficient, compact heat exchangers made entirely of stainless steel. Virtually maintenance free and capable of handling extremely high pressures and temperatures, they are an ideal heat transfer solution for challenging applications. These include duties with high cleanliness demands, with aggressive media such as ammonia, or where copper or nickel pose contamination risks.
Fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers
Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion bonding technology creates highly efficient, compact heat exchangers made entirely of stainless steel. Virtually maintenance free and capable of handling extremely high pressures and temperatures, they are an ideal heat transfer solution for challenging applications. These include duties with high cleanliness demands, with aggressive media such as ammonia, or where copper or nickel pose contamination risks.
AlfaNova fusion bonded plate heat exchangers
AlfaFusion is a breakthrough manufacturing technique that combines improved hygiene and corrosion resistance with the high efficiency and compact footprint of a brazed plate heat exchanger. By enabling a full stainless steel construction, our fusion-bonded AlfaNova heat exchangers can be used in installations normally reserved for conventional semi-welded and welded technologies. They are also a confident choice when the prime focus is on cleanliness, such as in clean water refrigeration and tap water heating systems.
Benefits of AlfaNova fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers
- 100% stainless steel construction means 100% recyclability
- Resists corrosion from aggressive media and process fluids
- Prevents nickel or copper-contamination when working with drinking water or any other hygienic fluid
- AlfaFusion technology enables higher temperature resistance than traditional brazed heat exchangers with same high-pressure capabilities
- Optimized plate design with asymmetric channel configuration provides maximum efficiency in demanding heating and cooling applications
How does a fusion-bonded plate heat exchanger work?
Alfa Laval fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers are carefully engineered to ensure the greatest possible thermal performance within the smallest possible footprint. Watch this animation to learn more about their basic operation.
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AlfaNova
Manufactured with Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion technology, AlfaNova is a heat exchanger consisting of corrugated stainless steel plates bonded together without any copper or nickel. The unique design means that AlfaNova can withstand more extreme temperatures and pressures with greater fatigue resistance than conventional brazed plate heat exchangers. It is also suitable for duties with very high hygiene demands.
Key benefits of the AlfaNova
- An optimal solution for hygienic applications such as tap water systems
- Copper-free design is suitable for use with ammonia refrigerant and for clean water refrigeration chiller applications
- Load distribution across many contact points secures excellent resistance to pressure fatigue
- AHRI-certified for reliable thermal performance in a range of HVAC applications
- Available with marine classification for use in a range of LPG/LNG duties, due to wide temperature range and copper-free construction
AlfaNova’s unique fusion-bonded manufacturing process provides greater reinforcement for the plate pack, which in turn ensures a higher degree of pressure resistance than that offered by comparable technologies. Additionally, the 100% stainless steel construction makes it possible to withstand temperatures as high as 550°C (1020°F). As a result, the AlfaNova fusion-bonded plate heat exchanger is highly dependable in applications with extreme pressure and/or temperature demands. Use of the same material for all key components also provides high thermal efficiency, in addition to giving the unit mechanical strength equivalent to any fully welded counterpart.
How does the AlfaNova work?
Two media at different temperatures flow on either side of thin corrugated stainless steel plates that are stacked on top of each other. The two media flow in a countercurrent flow through alternate channels and are held within the plate pack by a fusion-bonded seal around the edge of the plates. The points at which the plates are in contact with each other are also bonded with the same technology, reinforcing the pack against the pressure of the media inside.
The countercurrent flow makes it possible to extract heat efficiently even when there are only extremely small differences between the temperatures of the hot and cold media. This results in notable energy cost savings. In some systems, co-current flows are also possible.
AlfaNovaM
Manufactured with Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion technology, the AlfaNovaM line of marine heat exchangers are a fusion-bonded thermal transfer solution made from 100% stainless steel. This unique design means that AlfaNovaM is an ideal solution for Ammonia duties both (reliquefaction systems as well as in fuel gas systems) as well as for biofuel preheating duties.
Benefits of AlfaNovaM
- 100% stainless steel
- Marine classification even for higher classification levels in case of critical applications
- 100% stainless steel 316 makes AlfaNovaM suitable even for ammonia and biofuel duties
- Compact and efficient plate type heat exchanger
- Flexible temperature range from -196°C to 550°C
- Range includes: AlfaNovaM HP 27, AlfaNovaM HP 76 and AlfaNovaM HP 400
Alfa Laval’s fusion-bonded fully stainless steel heat exchangers offer a reliable and robust heat transfer solution for duties where metals like copper must be avoided. They can support applications with design pressures up to 40 bar with a temperature range from cryogenic to 550°C. For marine duties, they provide a smart solution for handling ammonia or other aggressive media. Suitable applications for AlfaNovaM are heat recovery duties, gas cooling, condensing, sub-cooling, gas heating and more.
How does the AlfaNovaM work?
Two media at different temperatures flow on either side of thin corrugated stainless steel plates that are stacked on top of each other. The two media flow in a countercurrent flow through alternate channels and are held within the plate pack by a fusion-bonded seal around the edge of the plates. The points at which the plates are in contact with each other are also bonded with the same technology, reinforcing the pack against the pressure of the media inside.
The countercurrent flow makes it possible to extract heat efficiently even when there are only extremely small differences between the temperatures of the hot and cold media. This results in notable energy cost savings. In some systems, co-current flows are also possible.
AlfaNovaM Product Leaflets
AlfaNovaTW
Clean water is essential for all life on earth. That is why Alfa Laval has introduced a range of heat exchangers designed to ensure the highest safety standards in tap water applications. AlfaNovaTW fusion-bonded plate heat exchangers are constructed entirely in 100% stainless steel. They can therefore fulfil the strictest health and environmental restrictions for tap water, while also easily integrating with existing systems and offering heat source flexibility.
You can’t compromise. So we don’t. AlfaNovaTW product benefits:
- The only truly 100% stainless steel solution on the market for tap water duties
- Fulfils requirements of existing and forthcoming tap water restrictions
- Compact, highly efficient plate heat exchanger technology that can be easily integrated into existing systems
- Optimized channel plate patterns provide greater thermal performance, meaning fewer plates and thus less material per unit
- Designed for long-term, sustainable operation and is fully recyclable at the end of its lifecycle
Preventing metal contamination in our water supplies is vital to public health and, increasingly, a focus of regulation around the world. The AlfaNovaTW heat exchangers were developed specifically with these challenges in mind. The secret is Alfa Laval’s patented fusion bonding manufacturing process. With this technique, we can ensure a truly 100% stainless steel construction to minimize the risk of copper and nickel release into water. At the same time, we can include many of the unique channel plate features seen on our other heat exchangers, offering you safety combined with the most efficient thermal performance possible.
AlfaNova – True stainless steel
AlfaNova is made of true stainless steel. With a patented fusion bonded process, AlfaNova is an optimal choice when your application has high demand on cleanliness, uses aggressive media, or when copper or nickel contamination is not acceptable. Learn more about why this is important and how it works.
AlfaNovaTW Product Leaflets
AXP AN
AXP stands for “extreme pressure,” and that’s exactly what this line of AlfaNova heat exchangers are designed to handle. Specifically engineered for subcritical and transcritical applications with CO2, the 100% stainless steel design also enables possibilities for other high-pressure duties with high hygiene demands or aggressive media. AlfaNova is therefore suited to CO2/ammonia cascade systems or compressor cooling.
Sustainable Heat Transfer – AXP AN Product Benefits
- Highly resistant to corrosion and extreme pressures
- Ensures a low refrigerant volume for ammonia systems where a low charge is desirable
- Can reliably support media temperatures ranging from -196°C (-320.8°F) to 550°C (1022°F)
- Able to withstand extremely high operating pressures thanks to external frames in carbon steel
- Certified to handle pressures up to 110 bar (PED approval) and 1595 psi (UL approval)
The AlfaNova AXP line has a capacity range of 10–150 kW, with PED-approval for maximum pressures of 110 bar at 150°C and UL-approval for 1595 psi at 302°F. The high-pressure design, combined with the benefits of Alfa Laval’s all-stainless-steel AlfaFusion bonding process, enable possibilities within a full range of subcritical and transcritical CO2 applications. These include heat recovery duties, gas cooling, condensing, sub-cooling and suction gas heating, and more.