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.