Alfa Laval FrontLine Heat Exchanger
FrontLine is a top-of-the-line series of plate heat exchangers. Able to meet the highest demands on hygienic control, it features a superior and flexible design that allows easy handling and modification.
Among the main applications for FrontLine are dairy pasteurization, yogurt cooling, UHT treatment and work with heat-sensitive products. FrontLine frames can be supplied in stainless steel and silver-coated versions, and the plates are available in alternative materials for challenging food-processing tasks.
Models
- Front-6
- Front-8
- Front-10
- Front-15
- Widestream®
- Gemini
Alfa Laval is a leading global supplier of products and solutions within the key technology areas of heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling.
Application
The Alfa Laval FrontLine Series is designed to meet the highest demands on hygienic control. It features flexible design that allows for easy handling and modification. The plate pattern and the pressing depth are designed for gentle, uniform heat transfer for sensitive dairy, food, and beverage products. The glue-free gaskets are made with FDA-compliant materials that are easy to maintain and have a long service life. The frame is available for multi-section applications and is easy to disassemble for inspection, cleaning, and service. The connection plate corners are interchangeable and the heat transfer plates can easily be added or removed, for easy modification as your needs change.
Among the main applications for FrontLine are dairy pasteurization, yogurt cooling, UHT treatment, and other heat-sensitive products. FrontLine frames can be supplied in stainless steel and silver-coated versions, and the CIP plates are available in alternative materials for challenging food-processing tasks. The series can handle the general cooling/heating requirements of the food, dairy, brewery, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
Materials
| Frame | Solid, cladded stainless steel, surface coated |
| Pressure Plate | Solid, cladded stainless steel, surface coated |
| Wetted Parts | Acid-proof stainless steel |
| Movable Nuts | Chromium-plated brass |
| Other Surfaces | Various grades of stainless steel |
| Plate Types | Front 6, Front 8, Front 10, Front 15, Widestream, Gemini |
| Plate Materials | 316 stainless steel, titanium, SMO |
| Gasket | Nitrile-FDA, EPDM, EPDM-FDA (glue-free, clip-on gaskets) |
Working Principle
A plate heat exchanger consists of a pack of corrugated metal plates with port holes for the passage of two fluids between which heat transfer will take place. The plate pack is assembled between a fixed frame plate and a movable pressure plate and compressed by tightening bolts. The plates are fitted with a gasket that seals the inter-plate channel and directs the fluids into alternate channels. The number of plates is determined by the flow rate, physical properties of the fluids, and the temperature program. Connections may be located in frame plate and pressure plate.
STANDARD DESIGN
Frame
The plates and the pressure plate are suspended from an upper carrying bar and positioned with a lower guiding bar, both of which are fixed to the support column. The tightening bolts are equipped with ball bearing washers in order to facilitate opening and closing of the unit. The frame and support column have adjustable feet. One unit may contain several heat exchangers, separated by connection plates with interchangeable connections.
Front Plate
The front plates are designed to meet the highest requirements in food processing. The combination of high pressing depth and a pattern with relatively few contact points provides longer operation time without interruptions. The distribution pattern assures an even flow over the entire plate. The port diameters enable cleaning in place (CIP) with the same flow used in the process itself.
Plate Pack
The chevron corrugation of the plates provides a passage between the plates, and supports each plate against the adjacent one. It also enhances the turbulence, resulting in efficient heat transfer. Different chevron angles are available to reach the optimal high heat transfer at a given pressure drop. A unique distribution area provides an efficient flow over the plate surface. The Alfa Laval hanging system enables easy handling of the plates in the frame. In addition, the corner guiding provides for a strong plate pack. The plates are reversible and have parallel flow, which means that only one type of gasket is needed.
Dimensional Data
| Front 6 | Front 8 | Front 10 | Front 15 | |
| B (in) | 14.6 | 19.4 | 26.4 | 31.6 |
| C (in) | 5.1 | 8.7 | 12.8 | 15.7 |
| D (in) | 33.8 | 43.1 | 52.1 | 60.0 |
| E* (in) | 55.9 | 72.8 | 85.3 | 102.6 |
| F* (in) | 15.7 | 19.7 | 19.7 | 27.6 |
| J (in) | 20.5 | 26.4 | 33.5 | 38.2 |
| K* (in) (min) | 39.4 | 56.7 | 55.1 | 62.5 |
| K* (in) (max) | 98.4 | 152.0 | 197.0 | 252.0 |
| Connection Diameter (in) | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 or 4.0 | 4.0 or 6.0 |
*Variable dimension depending on various components
Plates
| Front 6 | Front 8 | Front 10 | Front 15 | |
| Plate Pattern | Chevron | Chevron | Chevron | Chevron |
| Surface (ft²) | 1.94 | 4.09 | 6.67 | 9.79 |
| Overall Dimensions (in) | 39.4 x 9.8 | 49.2 x 14.8 | 59.1 x 19.7 | 68.9 x 24.6 |
| Port Dimensions (in) | 2.2 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 5.9 |
| Thickness (mm) | 0.5, 0.6, or 0.7 | 0.5, 0.6, or 0.7 | 0.5, 0.6, or 0.7 | 0.5, 0.6, or 0.7 |
Capacities
| Front 6 | Front 8 | Front 10 | Front 15 | |
| Pasteurization (gal/h) | 3,963 | 9,246 | 17,171 | 26,417 |
| Heating/Cooling (gal/h) | 3,963 | 9,246 | 17,171 | 39,626 |
| Water (gal/h) | 7,925 | 19,813 | 34,342 | 52,834 |
Product Resources
See all resources by Alfa LavalLiterature
Blog Posts
- Cleaning and Maintaining Your Heat Exchanger: Complete Guide
- How Does a Heat Exchanger Work - A 101 Guide
- Purpose of Heat Exchanger: Its Benefits in Processing Systems and CIP
- Choosing the Right Heat Exchanger: Plate, Shell and Tube, & Scraped Surface
- Fouling in Heat Exchanger: Learn Causes, Detection, and Prevention
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