Thermal efficiency and microbiological safety
VARITUBE® tubular heat exchangers are expertly crafted for the thermal treatment of low- to high-viscosity products across the food, beverage, dairy, and emerging new food industries. Engineered to process products with particles, pulp, or fibers, the VARITUBE® range is perfect for hygienic and aseptic applications. Additionally, we offer custom-designed solutions to meet specific product and process needs, including high-pressure applications.
Key benefits of the VARITUBE® include:
Modularity: The VARITUBE® is modular in design, meaning it can be configured in a variety of ways to suit specific requirements. This adaptability allows it to efficiently handle heat transfer tasks ranging from simple duties to more complex, high-demand processes. Materials and configurations: our tubular heat exchangers are available in different materials, including stainless steel, and with various tube configurations such as multi-tube, double-tube, and more. This enables it to handle corrosive fluids, high-pressure applications, and other challenging conditions. Efficiency: The heat transfer efficiency of VARITUBE® is noteworthy, as it minimizes energy consumption and heat loss while maximizing the performance of the system. Its design allows for excellent heat transfer and temperature control. Easy maintenance: The modular design not only makes it flexible but also simplifies maintenance. In case of issues, individual sections or tubes can be replaced or cleaned without dismantling the entire exchanger thus reducing downtime. Space-saving: The compact design of VARITUBE® ensures it takes up minimal floor space, making it an ideal choice for locations where space is at a premium.
GEA collaborates closely with customers to customize the VARITUBE® to their unique requirements, including size, materials, and other specifications. This tailored approach ensures seamless integration of the heat exchanger into existing processes.
GEA VARITUBE® S – Singletube
- For indirect heat treatment of products containing pieces,product recovery is possible using pigging technology.
- A tubular heat exchanger in which the product flows in one straight inner tube, while a heat-carrying medium flows around it in an external shell.
- The inner tube is mounted in a fixed or floating manner to compensate for the different thermal expansions caused by high temperature differences between the shell and inner tube.
GEA VARITUBE® M – Multitube
- With indirect heat exchange, which is also suitable for products containing particles of approx. 18 mm diameter.
- The product flows in several straight inner tubes while a heat-carrying medium flows around it in a shell.
- The inner tube is mounted in a fixed or floating manner to compensate for the different thermal expansions caused by high temperature differences between the shell and inner tube.
GEA VARITUBE® P
- Used for direct product/product heat recovery of smooth, fibre-contained and viscous products. In this tubular heat exchanger the product is guided through several straight inner tubes surrounded by the same product, which flows in a counter-current direction in the shell.
- The inner tubes are mounted in a floating manner and can be removed as a complete bundle for inspecting the product flow path.
GEA VARITUBE® SK
- A specially designed flow device that keeps the heat exchanger free from deposits – it processes products containing fibres with a length of up to 30 mm, and to enable an even distribution of the product to all tubes.
- This heat exchanger is available in an M version (VARITUBE® M-SK) and in a P version (VARITUBE® P-SK).
GEA VARITUBE® SK
GEA VARITUBE® SK
Function principle
Flow devices installed on the bottom plate provide additional, jet-type acceleration of the product in the reducer at the connection bend.
The flow breaks at the outside of the displacement device and generates a transverse flow directly in front of the tube bottom plate.
The transverse flow enables that no fibres collect on the tube bottom plate. Much longer production cycles are thus achieved and furthermore the efficiency will be increased.
Corrugated inner tubes
Most product tubes can be constructed with a corrugated finish.
Corrugation prevents the product from forming laminar layers close to the tube walls. The thereby more turbulent product behavior enables an improved efficiency of the thermal application and the overall heat exchanger.
Likewise, the corrugation leads to optimized plant runtimes and a reduction of CIP requirements.
Key features for VARITUBE® S, M & P:
- Available as complete heat exchanger skid or as a component for integration into an existing plant
- Assembled from sub units, each consisting of 2 or 4 heat exchanger modules
- Inner tubes installed in a fixed or floating mount
- Inner tubes can have either a smooth or corrugated surface
- Available with flow device VARITUBE® SK
- Tube lengths of 3,000 mm or 6,000 mm
- Different insulation types available
- Higher graded materials available
- EHEDG-certified gaskets
- 3A-type heat exchangers available
- TÜV-approved
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Innovating for impact: shaping better solutions for customers
Industrial production is being asked to use fewer resources, become smarter and keep equipment productive for longer. At GEA, that is changing how innovation happens: engineering, customer insight, digital expertise and service come together earlier – when a solution can still be shaped at its core.
