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Bringing hospital cooling into the future with BPHE upgrade

Every technology is designed for a wide range of applications and has its own pros and cons, but sometimes there are many advantages to choosing one technology over another. Heat exchangers have different technologies and can be used in many application processes. However, with the correct technology, it is possible to optimize and increase the efficiency of the application. 

Finding the right solution

This case study shows the replacement of a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger (S&T) with a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger (BPHE) and a side-by-side comparison of both technologies when applied as condensers.The customer reached out to SWEP looking to replace an S&T condenser that was in a very hard to reach area of a hospital. They had huge limitations for the installation of new equipment, but also faced a temporary shutdown for logistics and installation purposes if they were forced to go with the same type of S&T heat exchanger that was originally installed. The customer was also facing the challenge of increasing demand due to the expansion plans of the hospital, so a more highly efficient heat exchanger solution was crucial for this job.

SWEP BPHE technology

SWEP recommended the B120THx50 model BPHE to replace the S&T condenser and also provided all the necessary technical support required to make sure the installation was a success. The replacement BPHE was installed in an air conditioning system that used cold water & fan coils and consisted of two circuits with one condenser in each.

 

Results that speak for themselves

The replacement was only performed on one circuit, which made it possible to compare the performance of the two different technologies separately, or at the same time. The table below is a collection of the real working conditions of the two independent circuits after operating for one full hour. It is fascinating to see how a BPHE can outperform other technologies in terms of form factor and efficiency!

The below image shows how the BPHE was installed. Note the much more compact size when comparing to the older S&T unit. Due to the many issues that the customer would have faced in removing the old S&T unit, they decided to leave it in place. Since SWEP’s BPHEs are known for their small, yet efficient size, this was possible for the customer, helping them avoid a stressful situation.  The BPHE is performing much better than the S&T heat exchanger and the customer is impressed with the performance ­­– especially since daily temperature complaints from patients and staff ceased after the installation of the new SWEP BPHE.

             SWEP's BPHE is installed on top of the much larger S&T heat exchangers

 

To learn more about how our BPHEs can provide optimized solutions for your applications, visit our Applications page now.