Caloperm - Model Calopyx - Plate Heat Exchanger
Calopyx is a compact, totally welded, gasket-free plate heat exchanger that is suitable for operation with gases, liquids, and liquid gas mixes with phase transitions. The maximum operating pressure is 250 bar. The minimum and maximum temperature is limited by the used material. Calopyx operates in a tmeperature range between -200 °C and 1050 °C. The application range of Calopyx is comparable with shell and tube heat exchangers; however, the risk of fouling is much lower because of high turbulence, even at low flow velocities. The profiled heat exchange plates provide for high heat exchange performance and large heat exchange surfaces at small dimensions. Calopyx achieves a weight and construction volume reduction of up to 85 % while maintaining the same heat exchange rate.
In contrast to plate heat exchangers with gaskets, there are no maintenance costs or downtimes caused by the regular replacement of gaskets. The gasket-free connection of plates enables greater differential pressures between the two media, and also means that Calopyx heat exchangers can be used at much higher temperatures and pressures.
The operating conditions of your heat exchange process determine the plate thickness as well as the plate and shell material. Our standard plate material is 1.4404 (AISI 316L) with a thickness between 0.6 and 1.5 mm. We use nickel-based alloys or titanium for high temperatures, aggressive media, or sea-water.
The heat exchange plates of the Calopyx are joined together by a fully-automatic special welding process without any additional materials.
The thermodynamic and hydraulic characteristics of the Calopyx are determined by plate corrugations, plate size and plate number. Our scope of delivery includes different plate corrugations for gases, water-like, highly viscous, and heavily soiled media, as well as for evaporation and condensation.
Depending on the operating conditions, the shell of the Calopyx is also made, in different designs, from carbon steel or stainless steel:
1. Standard design:
- Welded shell with screwed side wall
2. Extreme operating conditions or aggressive media:
- Completely welded shell
3. Need for cleaning the plate packs and shells:
- Screwed shell with removal plate pack.
The nominal connection size is - depending on the plate diameter - on the plate side between DN 25 and DN 300, on the shell side, between DN 25 and DN 1000.
We construct and produce our heat exchangers according to national, international, and maritime regulations.
Areas of application and uses of Calopyx are, for example:
- Chemical industry: Product cooling, product heating, condensation of solvents
- Offshore: Cooling of crude oil while using sea water, compressed air cooling
- Petrochemistry: Condensation of naphtha, cooling of gas oil
- Renewable energies: Heat recovery in high-temperature fuel-cell processes, desorption of CO2 in amine-washing
- Power plant technology: Low-pressure steam, condensation, CCS technology
- Refrigeration technology: Ammonia / CO2 evaporation and condensation, cascades, DX evaporation
- Cryogenics: Low temperature condensation of solvents.
Just ask us – we will gladly develop a concept for your heat exchange task.
- totally welded
- compact design – high efficiency
- gasket free
- wide range of applications
- applicable for -200 °C up to 1050 °C
- pressure differences between media up to 250 bar
The fully welded Caloperm heat exchanger combines the best features of plate heat exchangers and shell & tube heat exchangers.
The heat exchange area consists of a pack of profiled stainless steel plates alternately welded together at the outer and inner diameter. Fitted with end tubes the plate pack is brought in position inside the shell, all the support is assembled and finally all components are welded together to the complete gasket free Caloperm heat exchanger.
Like traditional plate heat exchangers the profiled heat transfer area stands for
- optimal thermal performance
- low fouling
- reduction in footprint
- close temperature approach
And as in the shell & tube technology the units are
- usable for high operating pressures
- feasible to very high and very low temperatures
- gasket free
Each Caloperm plate heat exchanger is designed and manufactured for your specific operating conditions.
The heat exchanger plates are welded together with a robot welding system. Non destructive test procedures during the manufacturing ensure unchanged high quality of the plate packs. The production process is controlled by a quality system according to ISO 9001 and PED 2014/68/EU.
Working principle of the Caloperm heat exchanger
The plates are welded together alternately on the outer diameter and in the connection holes. Thereby a plate pack is formed with alternating channels for hot and cold media. The welded connection holes form the inner channel. At its end, this channel is fitted to the connecting pipe leading out of the shell. The shell channel goes straight through the plate pack. After assembling all components, the apparatus is totally welded together. This results in a gas tight unit, being able to handle high temperatures and high pressures as well as aggressive media on both sides. The Caloperm heat exchanger can be delivered on the plate as well as on the shell side as one pass unit or more pass unit.