Maidstone Hospital warms to PHE packages

Since 2000,Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has installed six Spirax Sarco EasiHeat steam-to-water plate heat exchanger packages in various extensions around the original hospital in Maidstone. The main building has relied on conventional shell and tube calorifiers for space heating.

These are being replaced by two 1000kW EasiHeat systems, which use a special steam-to-water plate heat exchanger (PHE).

Larry David, mechanical engineer, explains that should the units fail there would be no heating in part of the hospital. He says: "I'm confident the EasiHeats are up to the job because the ones we've already got have given us no cause for concern. For us, the main benefit is that they remove the necessity to strip down the calorifiers every two years for insurance inspections.

We're also hoping to save some energy because PHEs are highly efficient." The low-maintenance packages are quick to install.