Alfa Laval expands its Compabloc range to more customer duties with the launch of Compabloc+

With over 30,000 units installed around the world, the Alfa Laval Compabloc range is widely recognized as the market leader in bloc-type heat exchanger technology. Alfa Laval is now launching Compabloc+, a new range that will offer support for a greater number of heavy process industry applications. Thanks to the addition of an innovative new sealing concept, Compabloc+ ensures safe operation with no risk of media leaks at pressures up to 60 bar..

“Compabloc has a proven reputation in the industry for highly efficient and reliable heat transfer,” says Anne Baymont, Portfolio Manager, Alfa Laval. “But for some time, we have heard from customers with certain application challenges that they would like to be able to benefit from Compabloc’s thermal performance under higher pressure conditions. We have listened closely to their feedback and developed the Compabloc+ specifically with new needs and challenges in mind.”

Innovation under pressure

Compabloc+ stands apart from earlier heat exchanger models thanks to a design feature that Alfa Laval has dubbed the +Seal. The patent-pending sealing concept is a first-of-its-kind for bloc type heat exchangers, featuring a fully-confined, graphite gasket rather than a traditional flat gasket. This change makes it possible for Compabloc+ to safely handle higher operating pressures than possible in the past.

“The added pressure resistance that +Seal offers is really just the start,” adds Anne Baymont. “Its design also protects the gasket and prevents overtightening of the panels during service, making maintenance easier, safer and faster for our customers’ operators.”

New possibilities for a new era

The performance capabilities of Compabloc+ make it possible to increase sustainability in duties that – until now – have largely relied on bulky and thermally inefficient shell-and-tube heat exchangers. This includes applications such as hydrotreating in oil refineries, which has become increasingly critical as refiners work to adapt to changing sulphur regulations in motor fuels.

“The first Compabloc+ was installed for reactor heat recovery in a naphtha desulphurization unit, a duty that has traditionally employed shell-and-tubes,” says Chris Wajciechowski, Business Development Manager at Alfa Laval. “With 3-5 times greater thermal efficiency, the Compabloc+ has been able to extend the practical amount of heat recovered in the customer’s application, lowering operating costs and improving sustainability. The Compabloc+ was even able to replace what would have been more than ten shell-and-tubes, reducing the space required for installation by 90%.”

To learn more about Alfa Laval Compabloc+ and view videos with Alfa Laval heat transfer experts, visit www.alfalaval.com/compabloc/plus