Uncover plate heat exchanger trends in Canadian manufacturing plants

Who Did We Survey?

For our survey, we spoke to a range of respondents from different roles within general manufacturing plants across Canada. The majority (almost 51%) are in Ontario, followed by Quebec (20%). Alberta was third at 11%, followed by British Columbia (9%), the Atlantic region (6%) and Manitoba (4%).

In terms of job title, 22% of our respondents identified as C-suite, the highest percentage of all the industries we polled. There was a nearly identical number of respondents among the titles of Plant Operations Manager (16%), Plant Engineering Manager (15%) and Plant Manager (15%), who would be more directly involved with day-to-day plant operations and management.

Cool Solutions

How many manufacturing plants are using plate heat exchangers? A lot, it turns out. 75% of our respondents confirmed their plants use plate heat exchangers. In terms of specific usage, 46% use them for heat recovery, 39% use them for heating and 15% use them for cooling.

In the manufacturing sector, heat exchangers are extremely important for a variety of applications, some of which include:

• Process Cooling: Supports cooling applications in various manufacturing processes, preventing equipment overheating.
• Waste Heat Utilization: Captures waste heat from industrial processes for energy recovery, contributing to sustainability.
• Condensation and Vaporization: Used in manufacturing operations where phase changes are critical, such as in chemical processes.

Servicing Practices: A Breakdown

We then asked manufacturing plants how they’re servicing their plate heat exchangers, and whether they follow specific schedules and methods. It’s worth noting again that most respondents identified as C-suite and may not have a granular understanding of day-to-day operations.

Maintenance Practices:

• 85% adhere to specific cleaning and maintenance schedules
• 68% clean or service annually
• 15% of respondents clean or service every 1-4 years
• 17% of respondents were not sure

Factors Influencing Cleaning Frequency:

• 56% follow regulatory requirements
• 56% follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule
• 54% take operating hours into account
• 39% said it depends on the types of fluid processed
• 39% said performance changes drive cleaning
• 34% cited cost considerations as a primary influencer

Cleaning Methods:

• 59% utilize high-pressure water jetting
• 68% opt for mechanical cleaning/brushing
• 51% utilize chemical cleaning

Cleaning Providers:

• 47% rely on the manufacturer
• 44% use a repair company
• 7% use a distributor

Performance Measurement Practices:

• 66% use continuous data logging to measure performance
• 22% measure performance randomly
• 5% measure at regular intervals

The Advantages of Plate Heat Exchangers 

As a leading global supplier of heat transfer products and solutions for Canadian manufacturing plants, Alfa Laval heat exchangers are known for their reliability, low operating costs, and superior performance.

Brazed plate heat exchangers

Our brazed plate heat exchangers offer the longest possible service life, even under extreme conditions. Lightweight brazed construction provides greater thermal efficiency and a 75% smaller footprint than comparable shell-and-tubes. An ideal solution for use with natural refrigerants, thanks to the compact footprint, optimized plate design and high design pressure.

Welded spiral heat exchangers

Our welded spiral heat exchangers are designed to handle the toughest heat transfer challenges. Whether it’s frequent fouling from dirty media or limitations from pressure drop and floor space, they are the ultimate problem solver for liquid-to-liquid and two-phase duties. With a fully customizable design, you’ll enjoy the benefits of lower installation and maintenance costs, increased energy savings and reduced emissions.

Gasketed plate heat exchangers

When precision heat transfer matters, our gasketed plate heat exchangers are an optimal solution. The corrugated plates provide the greatest surface area through which heat can be drawn from one gas or liquid to the other. The units also have a flexible design and are easy to service and maintain.

Achieve Operational Excellence with Alfa Laval

 

With a global network of more than 200 skilled service specialists, unique expertise and service centres in more than 50 countries, Alfa Laval can cover everything from supplying the smallest spare part to being a lifetime performance partner.

Our thorough efficiency assessments, practical training sessions emphasizing optimal operation and upkeep, and frictionless access to top-notch replacement parts or upgrades are guaranteed to enhance your manufacturing plant's operational efficiency.