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M20-MFG

Central Cooler (Plate Type) · Heat Exchangers

Class-certified type (DNV register) · technical data sheet not yet verified​‌​​​​‍‌⁠‍⁠​​‍‌​‌‍‍‌

Alfa Laval M20-MFG gasketed plate-and-frame heat exchanger from the M-line (marine main central cooling, LT/HT). Plate count 20-400, max flow rate 440 m3/h, design pressure 16 bar, max temperature 110 C. M-line is the workhorse industrial gasketed PHE — widely used for marine LT/HT cooling and engine cooling.

Specifications

Technical data.

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Heat Exchanger TypeAlfa Laval Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers (GPHE)
Inspection

Inspector Detail

Common issues

  • Gasket hardening or cracking with age causing external or internal leakage
  • Plate fouling from the seawater side (marine growth, scaling) reducing heat transfer
  • Cross-contamination between LT and HT circuits through a perforated plate
  • Erosion/corrosion pitting on plates from high seawater velocity or poor water quality
  • Tie bolt loosening causing gasket compression loss and leaks
  • Flow maldistribution from partial blockage reducing cooling capacity

Inspection checklist

  • Visual inspection for external leaks along gasket lines
  • Pressure/leak test after opening for cleaning
  • Plate-by-plate inspection for pitting, erosion and gasket seating
  • Tie bolt torque check against the maker's specified value and sequence
  • Differential pressure/flow trend monitoring to detect fouling
  • Dye or pressure test to confirm no cross-contamination between circuits after reassembly

Service intervals

Opening for mechanical cleaningtypically annually, more often on raw seawater duty or if the fouling trend indicates it
Gasket replacementtypically every 3-5 years or whenever plates are opened and gaskets show compression set
Tie bolt torque checkat each opening/reassembly
Differential pressure/performance trend reviewcontinuous or monthly

Typical intervals for this design class, not the manufacturer’s figures for your model. The manufacturer’s manual is binding.

Typical wear limits

Plate wall thickness loss (erosion/corrosion)commonly flagged for plate replacement once wall loss reaches roughly 20-30% of the original thickness - confirm against Alfa Laval's plate condition criteria for the M-line
Gasket compression setno single numeric limit - replace once the gasket no longer seals reliably under a post-reassembly leak test

Ranges are typical for this design class. Always confirm against the manufacturer documentation for your serial number.

Critical spares

  • Full gasket set matching the plate pattern
  • Spare plates for replacing damaged ones
  • Tie bolts and nuts
  • Frame/carrying bar hardware

Safety

  • Depressurise and isolate both circuits before opening - trapped pressure or hot fluid hazard
  • Release tie bolts in the maker's specified sequence to avoid frame distortion
  • Hot surfaces on the HT circuit side during operation

Class survey

Central cooling heat exchangers are typically included in the periodical survey of essential cooling systems; surveyors commonly expect to see pressure test records after any gasket renewal and evidence of a tie bolt torque re-check.

Estimated lifetime: Plates in this gasketed design are typically serviceable for many years with periodic gasket renewal; individual plate life is driven by water quality and duty rather than a fixed running-hour figure - track condition through periodic opening rather than hours run.

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