Stainless-Steel Fusion Bonded Plate Heat Exchangers
Unique Complete Stainless-Steel Construction for Industrial, Hydronic, and Hygienic Applications
Fusion bonded plate heat exchangers feature the conventional advantages of a brazed plate heat exchanger, while also providing high levels of corrosion resistance and usability within the strictest sanitary applications, such as clean water refrigeration chillers and tap water heating systems. They are commonly used within a wide array of industrial heating and cooling, comfort heating, process industry, air conditioning, and refrigeration applications, among others. Their corrosion resistance allows for use of refrigerants such as ammonia, or in district heating installations with corrosive water.
Valutech carries the complete line of Alfa Laval Stainless Steel Fusion Bonded Plate Heat Exchangers.
AlfaNova
AlfaNova fusion bonded plate heat exchangers are Alfa Laval’s standard 100% stainless steel offering for applications with aggressive or corrosive media under high pressures. They do not use rubber gaskets, copper, or nickel, making the AlfaNova suitable for applications that demand high levels of cleanliness or where copper and nickel contamination is not tolerated. As compact, gasket-free plate heat exchangers, AlfaNova units require a much smaller footprint to provide high heat transfer efficiency with simple, low-maintenance operation.
Find and compare the AN Series models suitable for your application below:
| AlfaNova Model: | AlfaNova 27 | AlfaNova 52* | AlfaNova 66 | AlfaNova 76† | AlfaNova 200 | AlfaNova 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection Size in inches | 1″ | 2″ | 3″ | 4″ | ||
| Connection Type | 100 | 150 lb Compact Flange | ||||
| Max Number of Plates | 100 | 150 | 230 | 270 | ||
| Standard Temp. Rating in °F (°C) | 300 (149) | |||||
| Standard Pressure Rating in psi (bar) | 435 (30) | 537 (37) | 435 (30) | 261 (18) | 276 (19) | |
*The AlfaNova 52 will be phased out and replaced by the AlfaNova 66 in the near future. Please contact us for more details.
†The AlfaNova76 is available with optional rigid feet — see details below.
Rigid Feet Assembly
Assemblies with rigid feet affixed by studbolts are available for the AlfaNova 76 and can be combined with heating or cooling insulations. Valutech supplies feet assemblies with nuts, studbolts, and washers compatible with the threaded mounting studs of the heat exchanger; for more details refer to the table below:
Find and compare the AN Series models suitable for your application below:
| Compatible Models | X Dimension (mm) |
Y Dimension (mm) |
Z Dimension (mm) |
Material | Included Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlfaNova 76, CB110, CB112, AC220EQ |
195 | 269 | A + 180 | Galvanized Steel |
Nuts, Studbolts, Washers |
High-Pressure AlfaNova Models
AlfaNova fusion bonded plate heat exchangers are also offered in high-pressure (AlfaNova HP) and ultra high-pressure (AlfaNovaXP) variants for applications exceeding the pressure rating of standard AlfaNova models. For applications where marine classification certificate (ABS, BV, CCS, ClassNK, DNV-GL, KR, LR, RINA) is required, AlfaNovaM HP models are available in sizes 27 and 76. The XP design is particularly suited to CO2 applications, including cyclic and ultra high-pressure refrigerant service typical of such systems.
Find and compare the AN Series models suitable for your application below:
| AlfaNova HP Model: | AlfaNova 27 | AlfaNova 52* | AlfaNova 76 | AlfaNova HP 200 | AlfaNova HP 400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection Size in inches | 1″ | 2″ | 3″ | 4″ | |
| Connection Types | Standard Sweat, NPT | Standard Sweat, Compact Flange | |||
| Max Number of Plates | 100 | 150 | 230 | 270 | |
| Standard Temp. Rating in °F (°C) | 400 (204) | ||||
| Standard Pressure Rating in psi (bar) | 580 (40) | 464 (32) | 406 (28) | ||
Find and compare the AlfaNovaXP models suitable for your application below:
| AlfaNovaXP Model: | AXP27 | AXP52 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Size (NPT) in inches | 1″ | |
| Connection Types | Standard Sweat, NPT | |
| Max Number of Plates | 100 | 150 |
| Standard Temp. Rating in °F (°C) | 400 (204) | |
| Standard Pressure Rating in psi (bar) | 1015 (70) | |
For extreme-pressure applications, the AXP line of brazed plate heat exchangers is offered in a 100% stainless steel AXP AN (AlfaNova) variant. These gasket-free units handle extreme pressures up to 110 bar (1595 psi) and are specifically engineered typical high-pressure operation such as CO2 refrigeration, transcritical gas cooling, ammonia cascade systems, and compressor cooling. Other common applications include heat recovery duties, sub-cooling, and suction gas heating.
When working with transcritical systems, which routinely exceed 100 bar (1450 psi), it is crucial to design for sustained periods of high pressure, as well as stresses from rapid temperature and pressure spikes. The PressureSecure design of the AXP line supports high-temperature and high-pressure operation using thinner plates to translate to lower energy consumption and refrigerant charge over the lifespan of the unit. At the same time, the AXP AN is reinforced with robust tightening bolts and carbon steel external frames to withstand sustained pressure fluctuations throughout its design service life.
Find and compare the AXP AN models suitable for your application below:
| AXP AN Model | AXP AN 27 | AXP AN 52 |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Size in inches | 1″ | |
| Connection Types | Standard Sweat, Welded, NPT | |
| Max Number of Plates | 100 | 150 |
| Standard Temp. Rating in °F (°C) | 302 (150) | |
| Standard Pressure Rating in psi (bar) | 1595 (110) | |
Fusion bonded plate heat exchangers are formed using a 100% stainless steel construction, fused with Alfa Laval’s patented AlfaFusion technology. The units consist of a pack of corrugated plates portholes for input/output of the media. Their construction allows for operation under extreme pressures and temperatures (550 °C/1200 °F) relative to standard brazed plate units.
The construction of these units does not include gaskets, making them ideal for applications where aggressive process media or other conditions could damage the gaskets that would be used traditionally in gasketed-plate heat exchangers. Internal, shock-proof contact points hold together the plate pack, without the need for external frame plates for design pressures up to 70 bar (1015 psi). The edge of the plates and the plate-plate contact surfaces are also fusion-bonded, reinforcing against internal media pressure.
AlfaNova units are subjective to exhaustive pressure, thermal and corrosion resistance tests, ensuring maximum safety, reliability, durability. The construction of these models allows for optimal heat recovery due to attaining close (2°F) temperature approaches.
1: Cover Plate
3: Seal
2: Corrugated Plates
4: Ports
1: Cover Plate
2: Corrugated Plates
3: Seal
4: Ports
Other applications of AlfaNova units include:
- Ammonia Compressor Oil Cooling
- Ammonia Economizer
- Ammonia Evaporator (DX or Thermo-siphon)
- Ammonia Condenser
- Ammonia De-superheater and Heat Recovery
- Absorption Chillers – can be used with corrosive liquids (e.g. lithium bromide solutions), used as the high temperature regenerator.
- Clean Water Chiller
- Industrial/Hydraulic Oil Cooling
- Ammonia Compressor Oil Cooling
- Ammonia Economizer
- Ammonia Evaporator (DX or Thermo-siphon)
- Ammonia Condenser
- Ammonia De-superheater and Heat Recovery
- Absorption Chillers – can be used with corrosive liquids (e.g. lithium bromide solutions), used as the high temperature regenerator.
- Clean Water Chiller
- Industrial/Hydraulic Oil Cooling
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