Alfa Laval DuroShell increases thermal/pressure fatigue resistance in LPG/E cargo condensers

Photo courtesy of Alfa Laval.

 

The new Alfa Laval DuroShell plate-and-shell heat exchanger features an innovative construction that increases resistance to thermal and pressure fatigue.

Alfa Laval DuroShell is a specially engineered plate-and-shell heat exchanger with unique design capabilities. Already used in the offshore oil and gas industry, it is now being introduced for demanding marine duties such as LPG/Ethane cargo reliquefaction. An innovative construction and a patented roller coaster plate pattern make DuroShell significantly more robust, allowing it to condense cargo with a higher ethane content.

DuroShell is a laser-welded solution combining high thermal efficiency with a very small footprint, but it can withstand pressures up to 35 bar when titanium plates are used, along with temperatures as low as ‑198°C.

The robustness of DuroShell is the result of many factors, including the patented roller coaster pattern of its cut-wing plates. The roller coaster pattern ensures even expansion around the plate circumference, which eliminates potential weak spots and increases the heat exchanger lifetime. In addition, the entire plate pack is pre-compressed, which minimizes the effect of large differences and variations in temperature.

Further strength is added by the distribution tubes that extend through the laser-welded plate pack. These relieve stress on the plate pack itself, while at the same time ensuring the best distribution of media. Together with the roller coaster pattern, which creates high turbulence even at low velocities, the distribution tubes ensure excellent thermal performance.

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