A Compabloc heat exchanger is a fully welded plate heat exchanger that transfers heat between two fluids through a compact block of corrugated plates arranged in alternating channels.
Unlike gasketed plate heat exchangers, the Compabloc design uses fully welded plates, allowing operation under high temperature, high pressure, and chemically aggressive conditions.
The working principle is based on maximizing heat transfer through:
Thin metal plate walls
High turbulence flow
Counter-current fluid arrangement
Compact heat transfer surface
Inside a Compabloc heat exchanger:
One fluid flows through alternating channels
The second fluid flows in adjacent channels
Heat passes through thin plate walls
Fluids move in counter-current direction for maximum efficiency
This configuration enables very small temperature approach values and high energy recovery.
The corrugated plate design is critical to performance.
Benefits include:
Increased surface area
Strong turbulence even at low flow rates
Reduced boundary layer thickness
Improved heat transfer coefficient
Compared with smooth surfaces, corrugated plates significantly improve thermal efficiency.
Key reasons:
Thin heat transfer walls reduce thermal resistance
Turbulent flow increases heat transfer coefficient
Counter-current flow maximizes temperature driving force
Compact design minimizes heat loss
Typical heat transfer performance can be 3–5 times higher than shell and tube heat exchangers.
The welded design provides:
No gasket limitations
High mechanical strength
Resistance to thermal shock
Suitability for aggressive media
This makes Compabloc technology ideal for chemical and petrochemical industries.
Compabloc heat exchangers are commonly used under:
High temperature processes (up to 350°C)
High pressure systems (up to 40–60 bar)
Corrosive chemical service
Heat recovery processes
The Compabloc heat exchanger working principle combines high turbulence, thin plate heat transfer, and counter-current flow to deliver exceptional thermal performance in a compact, fully welded design
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