Are heat exchangers expandable?

That depends on the type of heat exchanger and the original design.

• Gasketted plate heat exchangers are often relatively easy to expand. By adding extra plates, the heat exchange surface area can be increased, thereby boosting capacity. However, the frame must be suitable for this, and the modified configuration must be re-checked for factors such as heat transfer and pressure drop.

• Shell-and-tube heat exchangers and welded or brazed plate heat exchangers are generally not easy to expand. When more capacity is required, it is often more efficient to design a new heat exchanger or to install an additional heat exchanger in parallel with the existing system.

At Kapp, we are happy to assess whether expansion is the best solution from both a technical and economic perspective. In doing so, we consider not only the required additional capacity, but also the available space, pressure drop, energy consumption and the total investment. In many cases, optimisation or replacement ultimately proves to be the most sustainable and cost-effective option.