The engineering task
A sensitive product stream must be heated to pasteurisation temperature, held for a defined time and then cooled. A regeneration section should recover as much heat as possible without compromising product safety or separation from utilities.
Each zone requires a separate balance. Increasing plate count adds area but also changes channel velocity and pressure drop. Hygienic constraints, fouling, cleaning operation and a safe pressure hierarchy between product and utility sides are part of the solution.
Required design data
- Product flow, composition and temperature programme
- Minimum holding time and allowable product temperature
- Hot-water and cooling-utility conditions
- Regeneration target, fouling and permissible pressure drops
Technical solution approach
Balance each zone
Treat regeneration, final heating, holding and cooling as coupled sub-problems.
Set regeneration
Determine achievable heat recovery from temperature approach and area; the remaining duty defines utility demand.
Size the plate pack
Match plate count, channel allocation and flow arrangement to heat transfer, residence time and pressure drop.
Check hygienic operation
Include minimum velocity, cleaning duty, pressure hierarchy and behaviour following a plate leak.
Verify pumping
Match total losses across zones and piping to the pump curve and NPSH margin.
Expected deliverables
Suitable SOL ALPHA modules
The modules form a technically plausible toolchain. Their final selection and sequence will be confirmed during the later calculation against the applicable code and project conditions.