CB Series (Brazed Plate)
The CB series is Alfa Laval's copper-brazed plate heat exchanger product line. More compact and cheaper than the sealed M series, but not disassemblable for cleaning. Used for lube oil cooling, hydraulic oil cooling, preheating and as condenser/evaporator in refrigeration systems. Installed in large numbers on modern ships — a typical ship has 5-15 CBs for various cooling circuits.
Components & Design
Component data being added…
Technical Data
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Common failures & inspection points
Inspect seals visually for cracks, hardening, swelling and discoloration; verify material compatibility with process fluids; check ClipGrip™ fastening. Aging symptoms and loss of elasticity are replacement indicators.
Verify A-dimension per manufacturer specifications with caliper (metallic contact required). Keep bolts clean and lubricated. Avoid over-tightening. Perform regular re-tightening after operating hours. At too low A-dimension, pressure loss and leakage are to be expected.
Monitor pressure differential across heat exchanger (increase indicates deposits). Check heat duty versus design value. Optimize CIP intervals after performance audits. Deposits generate higher pump load (energy waste up to 8,000 kWh/year possible).
After disassembly, inspect plate surfaces for local measurements (pitting), cracks and perforation corrosion. Verify material compatibility with process fluid. Observe fatigue cracks especially at corners and transitions. When perforation occurs, plate is unrecoverable and must be replaced.
After disassembly and cleaning, perform hydrostatic test per data sheet. Test pressure typically 1.5× operating pressure. Check external and internal leakage at all connections and plate edges. Document findings.
After opening, verify plate sequence and honeycomb pattern (corrected chevron patterns must alternate). Activate/validate 5-point alignment system for larger units. Offset or misplacement leads to short-circuiting and reduced heat duty.
Type-general inspection and maintenance points for this equipment category — not model-specific.
Service & Maintenance
No field cleaning possible — brazed construction. Replace when pressure drop exceeds 50% above clean value. Typical life 5-10 years depending on medium quality. Install strainers upstream.
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