Alfa Laval ACE Finned Tube Air Heat Exchangers
Air cooled exchangers for the oil, gas and power markets.
Alfa Laval ACE air cooled exchangers provide unmatched cooling performance for the entire oil, gas and power supply chain. For over 50 years, these air cooled exchangers have been custom-designed and manufactured for upstream, midstream and downstream applications. With custom coolers available for a wide range of capacities and duties, the Alfa Laval ACE product range offers robust, rugged and efficient cooling solutions that outperform other models, and consistently earn the confidence of our customers time and time again.
Extensive line of air-cooled exchangers
Custom-designed to meet specific customer specifications, Alfa Laval ACE air cooled exchangers are engineered for the upstream, midstream and downstream markets. All models feature a rugged design with superior welding and construction quality ensuring ultimate cooling performance.
Alfa Laval ACE Model A
- Vertical, sloped section(s) and fan with vertical air ejection
- Sloped sections provide an optimized center of gravity for safer loading and transport
- Available aluminium fan guard for increased maintenance safety and weight reduction
Alfa Laval ACE Model C
- Vertical section(s) and fan with horizontal air ejection
- Economical and compact alternative to vertical air ejection models
- Maximum cooler section access and serviceability
Alfa Laval ACE Model E
- Horizontal section(s) and fan(s) with vertical air ejection
- Available in single fan to four fan configurations
- Available aluminium fan guard(s) for increased maintenance safety and weight reduction
- VFD capable electrical drive design allows controlled power consumption
Alfa Laval ACE Model V
- Sloped sections with horizontal fans and vertical air ejection
- Modular, induced draft fan cells allow up to 60’ section length
- Design reduces transportation and plot space costs as compared to horizontal section designs
- Standard VFD fans prewired to control system, installed on unit, reduce operating costs
Alfa Laval ACE Model J
- Vertical section(s) and fan with vertical air ejection
- Maximum cooler section access and serviceability
- Directional plenum allows efficient airflow transition from horizontal to vertical
Alfa Laval ACE Model T
- Horizontal section(s) and vertical fan(s) with vertical air ejection
- Available in single fan to five fan configurations
- Available aluminium fan guard(s) for increased maintenance safety and weight reduction
- Relatively narrow width enables increased transportability
Applications:
x Heavy usage in industry
* Presence in industry
Configurations:
x Majority of models built
* Option for model
Applications | Model A | Model C | Model E | Model J | Model T | Model V |
Upstream: Drilling | x | x | x | |||
Upstream: Field Compression | x | x | * | x | x | |
Upstream: SAGD | * | x | ||||
Upstream: CPF | x | |||||
Upstream: Upgraders | x | |||||
Midstream: Compressor Stations | x | * | x | * | x | * |
Midstream: Gas Processing | x | * | x | * | * | * |
Midstream: Gas Fractionation | x | * | x | * | * | * |
Midstream: LNG | x | * | ||||
Downstream: Refineries | * | * | x | * | ||
Downstream: Petro-Chemical | * | * | x | * | ||
Downstream: Power | * | x | x | |||
Downstream: CNG | * | x | * | * | * |
Configurations | Model A | Model C | Model E | Model J | Model T | Model V | |||||||
Forced Draft | Induced Draft | x | x | * | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
Engine Driven | Motor Driven | x | * | x | x | x | x | * | x | x | |||
Air Ejection | Vertical | Horizontal | Vertical | Vertical | Vertical | Vertical | |||||||
Hot Air Recirculation | x | * | x | * | |||||||||
Painted | Galvanized | x | * | x | * | x | x | x | * | x | x | x | x |
Fan Diameter Range | 2’-14’ | 2’-10’ | 2’-34’ | 2’-14’ | 2’-14’ | (4) 3’-(1) 6 | |||||||
Typical Engine Driven HP | 50-1500 HP | 50-400 HP | 50-800 HP | 50-4,500+ HP |
Alfa Laval ACE Vspeed
The Alfa Laval ACE Vspeed adjustable speed fan drive is a magnetically modulated, variable speed drive intended for both engine and electric motor driven fans. It was designed with field retrofits in mind. On most coolers, only the drive guard and drive sheave must be modified to accept the drive. A custom sheave may be provided to minimize installation time.

The interaction between rare earth magnets (within a hub attached to the fan shaft) and nonferrous conductors (in a hub attached to the driven sheave) creates a flux field that transmits torque across an air gap from driver to load. The smaller the gap, the greater the torque transmitted.
By intentionally changing the air gap, the ACE Vspeed efficiently varies and controls the speed of the fan — the larger the air gap, the slower the fan speed.
Alfa Laval ACE Vspeed benefits
Regulatory and environmental
- Provides a means for increasing overall compression package efficiency, aiding in compliance of growing governmental regulations
- Reduction in air cooler fan noise during sensitive time periods, especially at night, when ambient temperatures are lower and equipment requires less air flow
Reduced maintenance and downtime
- Reduction in rotating component wear (belts, bearings, shafts, etc.)
- Eliminates the need for costly seasonal re-pitching of fan blades, reducing equipment down-time
- Minimizes pulsing and impact as the ACE Vspeed’s air gap isolates the cooler from cyclical loads transmitted from the reciprocating engine crankshaft
- Requires minimal installation effort, which can be done by Alfa Laval’s field service teams
System simplification
- In some cases, the ACE Vspeed eliminates the need for other temperature control devices, such as louvers and their associated actuators and controls
- For electric motor driven coolers, the ACE Vspeed can replace costly, high-voltage variable frequency drives that may not be easily suitable for stringent electrical area classifications
Increased efficiency and performance
- Decreased cooler driver energy consumption (fuel gas for engine driven coolers, electricity for motor driven coolers)
- For compressor units, the reduced parasitic cooler shaft power consumption can be redirected for improved compressor horsepower and capacity
Alfa Laval wet/dry hybrid auxiliary cooling
Our hybrid auxiliary cooling solution is a system designed approach created to maximize site water conservation while still enabling very low process outlet temperatures. To stay below a site’s allowed water usage, typically influenced by cooling tower consumption, the Alfa Laval Niagara Wet Surface Air Cooler (WSAC®) is combined with an Alfa Laval ACE dry air cooler to maximize system efficiency by taking advantage of fluctuating ambient air temperatures. Our system approach allows for a consistently low process outlet temperature during all seasons by running dry during colder ambient periods; then utilizing available water only during the hotter summer ambient air temperatures. And unlike typical cooling tower solutions, poor quality water can be collected and used. Finally, total system responsibility for thermal performance is with Alfa Laval.
Advantages
Having the flexibility to individually or simultaneously cool a process fluid using different heat exchanger technologies provides the following immediate and long-term benefits:
- Our system’s increased efficiency significantly reduces plot space and electrical power consumption when compared with pure dry air cooler solutions.
- The reduction in water consumption, using dry air coolers when possible or increased cycles of concentration, can minimize site permitting and regulatory challenges.
- Alfa Laval’s ability to thermally design a complete hybrid solution provides a consolidated purchasing and engineering experience, and more focused operational and warranty support.
Application Diagram