Hexonic JAG heat exchanger with REEFLOW plates reduces the risk of clogging and simplifies maintenance

The efficiency of heat exchangers is important for several industrial processes, but it doesn’t always depend on its heat exchange capabilities. Often when working with fluids containing high levels of hard particles the main challenge is ensuring stable flow and minimizing the risk of clogging, which can lead to unplanned stops. Such problems are commonplace for operations involving wastewater, sludges, digestate, and suspensions, and to provide a reliable solution, the established producer of heat exchanging equipment Hexonic has developed the JAG heat exchanger with REEFLOW plates.

"REEFLOW features a new geometry designed for the JAG JFD-060F plate heat exchanger. It was developed specifically for media where standard flow channels might prove insufficient. A key advantage of the solution is the greater width of the channels on the heat exchanger plates," Hexonic commented to BalkanEngineer.com.

Technical specs of the JAG JFD-060F REEFLOW:

• Heat transfer area: up to 240 m²;
• Maximum operating pressure: 16 bar;
• Operating temperature: from -20°C to +170°C;
• Connection size: DN100;
• Stainless steel or titanium plates;
• Gaskets: EPDM HTX, NBR, and Viton;
• Channel configurations: 8/8 mm and 11/5 mm.

What are the consequences of blockage in a standard plate heat exchanger under difficult operating conditions?

The accumulation of deposits, fibers, and solid particles in the heat exchanger during certain processes leads to:

• Reduced flow rate;
• Increased pressure drop;
• A need for more frequent mechanical cleaning;
• Shorter intervals between maintenance operations;
• Unplanned production downtime.

"For specifically constrained production processes or those of critical importance, any unplanned stoppage results in a loss of productivity and increases operating costs," Hexonic emphasized.

REEFLOW- more space for flow

Compared to standard heat exchanger plates, REEFLOW geometry ensures more space for flow in the work environment. This allows for operations with more contaminated or viscous fluids.

Depending on the type of application, REEFLOW heat exchangers are configurable with symmetrical channels (8x8 mm) or asymmetrical channels (11x5 mm). This allows for optimal balance of thermal and hydraulic aspects tailored to specific process requirements.

Advantages of REEFLOW technology:

• Reduced risk of clogging;
• More stable flow of the working medium;
• Minimized deposit formation;
• Reduced hydraulic resistance;
• Longer intervals between cleanings;
• Higher operational reliability;
• Fewer unplanned downtimes;
• Lower maintenance costs.

"It is important to emphasize that the use of REEFLOW technology does not eliminate the need for maintenance. It was developed to reduce the risk of clogging and support more stable operation in correctly sized applications," the company stated.

Possible application for JAG REEFLOW

• Wastewater treatment plants: domestic, industrial, activated sludge, waste heat recovery systems;
• Biogas plants: digestate, fermentation processes, organic substances;
• Food and beverage industry: fruit purees, juices with pulp, syrups, viscous dairy products;
• Sugar and fermentation industries: molasses, sugar based syrups, fermentation material, process products containing sludge;
• Pulp and paper industry: process water, fibrous material; heat recovery systems.
• Chemical industry: viscous liquids, suspensions, material containing solid particles, processes where managing pressure loss is essential.

Demountable design for easier maintenance

"In heavily contaminated environments, ease of maintenance is a key factor, as it impacts overall process optimization. In this context, JAG plate heat exchangers allow for quick opening for inspection, mechanical cleaning of the plates, easy gasket replacement, and adjustment of the number of plates to suit new operating conditions. All of this facilitates the modernization of existing installations and reduces overall operating costs," Hexonic commented. 

An investment in reliability

"In continuous production processes, the cost of unplanned downtime often significantly exceeds the initial investment in the equipment. Therefore, REEFLOW should not be viewed as a substitute for standard heat exchanger plates, but rather as a specialized solution for applications where free flow of the process medium, reduced risk of clogging, and reliable operation are critical to production efficiency. JAG REEFLOW helps designers, system integrators, and industrial facilities enhance process reliability and optimize total operating costs," specialists from the company have commented.

Photo source: Hexonic