Alfa Laval’s New Heat Exchanger Caters to More CO2 Applications

By Tine Stausholm, Feb 25, 2021, 17:51 2 minute reading

The AXP82 brazed plate heat exchanger offers wider capacity range, better fatigue performance and lower pressure drop.

The Alfa Laval AXP82 heat exchanger

Swedish manufacturer Alfa Laval has introduced a more robust brazed plate heat exchanger in its AXP range, designed specifically for CO2 applications.

The new Alfa Laval AXP82 will enable use of “the same heat exchanger design for a wider kW [capacity] range of transcritical duties than possible with previous models,” said Alfa Laval on its website.

The new AXP82 has grown out of a need for an ever-expanding range of users. “The market for CO2 has grown quickly as more system builders and end-users are making the switch to natural refrigerants in response to changing environmental legislation,” said Fredrik Ekström, President of the Business Unit for Brazed & Fusion Bonded Heat Exchangers at Alfa Laval.

“In addition to commercial refrigeration, today we’re seeing customers in a growing number of industries making the switch to CO2 – that includes air conditioning and industrial applications as well as marine customers,” Ekström added.

However, designing heat exchangers for CO2 is a very different beast than designing for traditional refrigerants. “The XP in AXP stands for extreme pressure, and that’s exactly what we have developed this range of heat exchangers to handle,” Ekström continued. “With the launch of AXP82, we will be able to ensure reliable thermal performance for systems of varying sizes, in a wider scope of demanding CO2 applications.”

New features of the AXP82

The AXP82 has brand new channel plate design, giving it a fatigue performance that exceeds the standards of previous heat exchanger models from Alfa Laval, according to the company’s website. The new channel plate design is built using Alfa Laval’s own PressureSecure technology.

An updated element of the AXP82 is a new larger port design. By optimizing the balance between port size and mechanical performance Alfa Laval has achieved a “market-leading standard” for low pressure drop, and a high fatigue resistance, said the company.

In addition to these features, the AXP82 is also the first in the AXP range to boast a frameless construction, something that reduces the weight of the unit and makes it more compact.

“For customers, the more compact design offers a number of very clear benefits,” Ekström added. “In addition to a smaller footprint, the reduction of material in the construction improves sustainability in a cost-effective way.”

By Tine Stausholm (@TStausholm)

Feb 25, 2021, 17:51




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