Contherm scraped surface heat exchangers
Contherm® is a single-wall scraped-surface heat exchanger (SSHE) designed for continuous and semi-continuous processing of an extremely broad range of viscosities. Its unique design offers impressive flexibility in heating and cooling operations for numerous products, with or without particles.
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The scraped-surface heat exchanger principle
In scraped-surface heat exchanger applications, the product enters the cylinder at the bottom and flows upwards. The heating or cooling medium travels in a counter-current flow through a narrow annular channel.
Rotating blades continuously remove product from the cylinder wall to ensure uniform heat transfer. The product enters the cylinder in a corkscrew pattern in the same direction as the rotating scraping assembly. This preserves product quality by reducing shear, providing gentler product handling and reduced pressure drop across the inlet. Finally, the product exits the cylinder at the top.
Both product flow and rotor speed can be adjusted to suit the particular properties of the product in the cylinder.
More than you thought possible
For continuous processing of demanding products, the complete Contherm® range provides endless possibilities. In fact, today Alfa Laval is the only supplier on the market who can offer robust heat transfer with both double and single-wall scraped surface heat exchanger solutions.
We understand that no two customers’ needs are identical. That’s why Contherm® heat exchangers are always fully tailored to fit the intended application. The end result is more: more capacity, more efficiency and – most importantly – more profitability. When it comes to your business, who doesn’t want more?
Viscous products
The complete Contherm® range provides solutions for continuous processing of any type of challenging viscous liquid. Whether dealing with low or medium-viscosity products or those with extremely high viscosities, there is a member of the Contherm® family to fit your needs.
Example applications include: ketchup, mayonnaise, hummus, chocolate spreads, fruit pie fillings, gravies and sauces, whipped/aerated products, peanut butter, pizza sauces, puddings, salad dressings, salsa and taco fillings, sandwich spreads, bread dough, mechanically deboned meat (MDM), gelatine, omelettes, baby food, nougat, skin lotions, shampoos, liquorice, and more.
Heat-sensitive products
Scraped-surface heat exchangers are an ideal solution for heat-sensitive products that tend to cause fouling in other types of heat exchangers. With the most complete range available, Alfa Laval can support customers with any challenging heat-sensitive product need.
Example applications include: liquid and scrambled egg products, meat emulsions, fruit preparations and fruit purées, cream cheeses, whey proteins, and more.
Crystallizing products and applications with phase change challenges
Preserving taste, colour and/or texture is a particular challenge for manufacturers of products that can undergo crystallization. We work with your business to find the optimal Contherm® solution to fit your production.
Example applications include: coffee/tea extracts, icings and frostings, sugar concentrates, margarines, shortening, spreads, gelatine broth, lard, fondant, biscuit creams, solvents, fatty acids, petroleum jelly, beer and wine, and more.
Products with particulate matter
Contherm® solutions are always built to the specifications of the target duty. Whether you are processing products with large, small or mixed particles, or switching between non-particulate and particulate products, your Contherm® can be adapted to meet the demands.
Example applications include: meat, chicken pieces, fish meal, pet food, jams and preserves, yoghurt with fruits, a variety of fruit preparations, rice pudding, vegetable pieces, and more.
Sticky products
Many heat exchangers encounter limits when handling process fluids that are sticky. For Contherm®, however, it’s never a problem. The complete Contherm® family can support a full range of mildly to extremely sticky products, from foods to beauty products and more.
Example applications include: caramel, cheese sauces, lecithin, processed cheese, confectionery, yeast extracts, gums, gelatine, mascara, toothpaste, starch, and more.
