Alfa Laval builds several very different heat exchangers, and a used purchase goes much smoother when you know which family you are looking at. A gasketed plate-and-frame unit, a Compabloc, a spiral exchanger and a brazed plate unit each handle different duties, and each one needs its own set of checks before it goes into your process.
This guide covers the Alfa Laval heat exchanger lines you are most likely to see on the used market, how to read a nameplate, and what to confirm before you submit a purchase request. If you are shopping for other Alfa Laval equipment such as centrifuges or separators, start with our Alfa Laval used equipment page. If you have not settled on a brand or exchanger type yet, our used heat exchangers page is the better starting point.
Alfa Laval Heat Exchanger Families You Will See Used
Gasketed plate-and-frame (M and T series)
This is the family most buyers mean when they ask about an Alfa Laval plate heat exchanger. Corrugated plates, each fitted with a gasket, are compressed between a fixed frame plate and a movable pressure plate. Models such as the M3, M6, M10, M15, T5, T20 and T25 range from small utility duties to large process loads.
Because the pack can be opened, you can inspect and clean the plates, and in many cases add or remove plates when your capacity needs change, as long as the frame has room. Double-wall versions add protection against the two fluids mixing, and semi-welded versions are built for duties that attack standard gaskets, such as refrigerants.
Compabloc welded plate-and-block
A Compabloc uses a laser-welded plate pack inside a block design, with a confined graphite gasket at the edges. It is a common choice for condensing duties, such as reactor condensation and solvent recovery in specialty chemical plants, and it is often used in place of shell-and-tube or graphite block condensers. The plate pack can be cleaned mechanically, which matters when your service leaves deposits behind.
Spiral heat exchangers
Spiral units wrap two long metal strips into a coil, which creates two curved flow channels. That geometry keeps fluids moving at a steady speed, so they tend to stay cleaner in services with slurries, viscous liquids and fluids that foul quickly. They also handle vapor condensation well.
Brazed (CB series) and AlfaNova fusion-bonded units
These are sealed, gasket-free plate packs. Brazed units use copper as the joining material, and AlfaNova units are built entirely from stainless steel. They are compact and need little maintenance, but you cannot open them for cleaning, so they fit clean services such as water, glycol and hot water heating better than fouling process streams. Ask about the unit’s fluid history before you buy one.
Alfa Laval shell-and-tube
Alfa Laval also makes shell-and-tube exchangers, including double-tube-sheet designs such as the Pharma-line, which are used for water-for-injection, purified water and cleaning-in-place systems. For the basics of how this design works, see our shell and tube heat exchangers page.
|
Family |
Opens for cleaning? |
Typical fit |
Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gasketed plate-and-frame |
Yes |
General process heating and cooling, utilities |
Gasket condition and plate material |
|
Compabloc |
Yes, mechanically |
Condensing and solvent recovery |
Plate material and pressure rating |
|
Spiral |
Yes, by design |
Slurries, viscous or fouling fluids, condensing |
Wall condition and connection layout |
|
Brazed or AlfaNova |
No, sealed pack |
Clean water, glycol, hot water |
Fluid history and any leaks |
|
Shell-and-tube |
Bundle can be pulled |
Hygienic water systems, high-pressure duties |
Tube condition and tube sheet |
How to Read an Alfa Laval Nameplate
The nameplate answers most identification questions before anyone picks up the phone. On gasketed units it is usually fixed to the frame plate, and sometimes to the pressure plate, as either a steel tag or a sticker. Look for the type, serial number and year of manufacture, along with the allowable pressure and temperature, the maximum operating temperature and the volume of each side.
Gasketed model names follow a pattern. Using TL10-PFG as an example:
- T: the generation. T is the newer design, and M is the earlier one.
- L: the frame height, when a second letter is present. L is long and S is short.
- 10: the connection size, measured roughly in centimeters. A 10 is about a 4-inch port.
- P: the plate pressing depth. B is a narrow channel, P is medium and M is wide.
- FG: the frame type, which ties to the pressure rating. Other examples are FM, FD and FS.
- Extra letters: a D points to a double-wall unit, and a W points to a semi-welded unit.
Model codes vary by series and generation, so treat this as a starting point. Send us the full nameplate text or a clear photo, and we will work from the serial number.
Plate and Gasket Materials That Matter in Chemical Service
Alfa Laval gasketed plates are offered in materials such as 304, 316, Alloy 254, titanium, Hastelloy C-276 and nickel. The right choice depends on your fluids, so match the plate material on the used unit to what your process needs. Gaskets matter just as much, and each rubber compound has a different strength.
|
Gasket |
Where it fits best |
Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
|
NBR |
Oils, fats and water |
Low resistance to acids and bases |
|
HNBR |
Hydrocarbons and oils, with better chemical resistance than NBR |
Not a fit for every aggressive chemical |
|
EPDM |
Acids, bases, hot water and steam-side service |
Not typically chosen for oil service |
|
FKM |
Aggressive chemicals and oils |
Grades vary, so confirm the exact compound |
Gaskets are wear items. A used gasketed unit often goes back into service with a fresh gasket set matched to your fluid, so build that into your budget. Plates and gaskets are designed together for a specific model, so do not assume parts from one series will fit another.
What to Confirm Before You Buy
We sell equipment as inspected and as-is, so the more detail you share up front, the better we can match you with the right unit. These are the points that most often decide whether a used Alfa Laval exchanger fits.
- Operating limits: the design pressure and temperature on the nameplate should sit comfortably above your operating conditions.
- Pressure vessel code: units are built to codes such as ASME and PED. Confirm which one your plant or insurer expects.
- Connections: match the port size and flange rating, such as ASME Class 150 or Class 300, to your existing piping.
- Plate and gasket materials: check both against your fluids, not just the duty.
- Size and layout: compare the frame length and connection locations with the space you have.
- Capacity headroom: on gasketed units, ask how many plates are installed and whether the frame can take more.
- Paperwork: each Alfa Laval unit has documents tied to its serial number, such as a drawing, a spare parts list and a plate hanging list. Ask whether any are available.
- Physical condition: look for pitting, cracks or warped plates, worn gaskets, corrosion on the frame and tightening bolts, and heavy scale from past service.
Replacing a Shell-and-Tube Unit With an Alfa Laval Plate Exchanger
Plate designs often take up less floor space than the shell-and-tube units they replace, which is why Alfa Laval positions models such as the TS6 for steam-to-water heating and the Compabloc for condensing. A swap still takes planning. Connection sizes and locations rarely line up with the old unit, and fouling fluids may point you toward a spiral or a Compabloc instead of a gasketed pack. Have your engineer confirm the duty before you buy, and see our plate heat exchangers page for the general comparison between the two designs.
Alfa Laval Heat Exchanger FAQs
How do I find the model of my Alfa Laval heat exchanger?
Check the nameplate on the frame plate or pressure plate. It lists the type and serial number. If the plate is worn or missing, send us photos of the frame and the plate pack, and we can help narrow it down.
Can I add plates to a used Alfa Laval gasketed unit?
Often, yes, but only up to what the frame and carrying bar can hold, and the new plates must match the model and plate pattern. The plate hanging list for the unit shows how the pack is arranged, so ask for it.
Can I mix plates or gaskets from different Alfa Laval series?
You should not assume so. Plates and gaskets are designed as a pair for a specific model, and the pressing depth and pattern differ between series.
Which Alfa Laval design handles fouling fluids best?
Spiral exchangers are built for fluids that foul, such as slurries and viscous liquids. Gasketed and Compabloc units can be opened or cleaned mechanically. Sealed brazed and AlfaNova packs are the hardest to clean, so they suit cleaner services.
What should I send to get a quote?
Send the model and serial number if you have them, along with your fluids, operating pressures and temperatures, connection size and the quantity you need. A nameplate photo helps a lot.
Send Us Your Alfa Laval Heat Exchanger Requirements
Our team can help you find a used Alfa Laval exchanger that fits your fluids, your connections and your timeline. Browse the Alfa Laval units currently listed, search our full heat exchanger inventory, or submit a purchase request with your model or nameplate details. You can also use our contact form or call +1-866-289-5232.
