Case Study: Stokvis Plate Heat Exchanger Upgrade at NHS Hospital, North Wales
Application: NHS Hospital in North Wales
Existing Units: 4 x Stokvis Econoplate Plate Heat Exchangers
Replacement Units: 4 x Virdis Energy GP Water Plate Heat Exchangers
A hospital in North Wales approached Virdis Energy to replace a series of ageing Stokvis Econoplate units that were approaching 30 years of service and beginning to fail.
Working closely with the North Wales NHS Estates team, we supported the development of an asset register covering all Stokvis boilers and plate heat exchangers across the estate. This formed the foundation for a structured replacement schedule, allowing the Trust to proactively plan upgrades and manage risk.
The Challenge
The hospital operated a large bank of Stokvis Econoplate packaged plate heat exchangers delivering domestic hot water (DHW) throughout the hospital grounds. Each unit exceeded 1MV in capacity and had been manufactured up to 30 years ago.
With performance declining and reliability becoming a concern, replacement was essential to ensure uninterrupted hot water supply across the site. Their primary priority during the upgrade was to avoid any downtime and maintain a dependable hot water system, ensuring the hospital could continue operating safely throughout the process.
The Solution: Stokvis Plate Heat Exchanger Upgrade
The hospital wanted a direct replacement for their Stokvis Econoplates, so we selected the Virdis Energy GP Water units. These units provide a like-for-like replacement with the same specifications, offering a simple yet highly efficient upgrade while maintaining the reliability and familiarity trusted by the estates team.
At the request of the estate team, we are gradually replacing each Stokvis plate heat exchanger with the GP Water unit. Two of the four units have now been successfully replaced, with the remaining two scheduled for installation. Both installations were completed without any system downtime and the hospital is now benefiting from a reliable domestic hot water supply.
The Result
- Equivalent high-capacity DHW performance
- Improved system reliability and efficiency
- A clear, structured asset management plan for future upgrades
- Reduced risk of system downtime or disruption
Learn more about the Stokvis Econoplate and our direct replacement: