Custom Plate Coil Configurations
Zantherm manufactures custom plate coil heat exchangers in a variety of configurations for industrial heating and cooling applications.
Typical configurations include:
- Vessel Jackets
- Immersion Panels
- Tank Bottom Sections
- Clamp-on Plates
- Falling Film Panels
Each design is engineered to match your process requirements, available space, operating conditions, and thermal performance targets.
What Is a Plate Coil Heat Exchanger?
A plate coil heat exchanger is a welded heat-transfer panel designed for industrial heating and cooling applications. Two metal plates are laser welded and hydraulically inflated to create internal flow channels that generate efficient turbulence and uniform temperature distribution.
Depending on the industry or manufacturer, plate coil heat exchangers are also referred to as pillow plate heat exchangers, inflated dimple plates, or laser-welded plates.
Compared with traditional shell-and-tube systems, plate coil heat exchangers provide higher heat-transfer density, faster thermal response, and more compact integration into industrial process equipment.
Key Plate Coil Applications
Heating and cooling solutions for fermentation tanks, storage vessels, reactors, and process equipment.
Efficient cooling systems for dairy processing, beverage production, and industrial chilling applications.
Recover waste heat from industrial processes to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Precise temperature control for chemical, pharmaceutical, and specialty process reactors.
Process cooling, refrigeration, and phase-change heat transfer systems.
Energy storage, thermal buffering, battery cooling, and industrial temperature-control systems.
Key Thermal Performance Advantages
Wave-surface flow channels create strong turbulence for highly efficient thermal transfer performance.
Low thermal inertia enables rapid reaction to temperature changes in industrial heating and cooling systems.
Optimized channel geometry promotes even heat transfer across the entire panel surface.
Pressure-rated welded structures provide excellent resistance to repeated thermal cycling conditions.
Materials & Operating Conditions
Plate coil heat exchangers can be manufactured in a wide range of corrosion-resistant materials for demanding industrial environments.
Available materials include stainless steel grades such as 304, 316L, 2205 duplex stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum.
Systems can be designed for liquid, steam, refrigerant, thermal oil, glycol, cooling water, and cryogenic media applications.
Custom engineering support is available for high-pressure, high-temperature, and sanitary operating conditions.
Additional Application Areas
- Brewery Cooling
- Wine Production
- Dairy Processing
- Seafood Processing
- Petrochemical Processes
- Chemical Plants
- CIP-Compatible Systems
- Pharmaceutical Production
- Water Source Heat Pumps
- Industrial Chilling Systems
- Refrigeration Equipment
- Process Cooling
- Industrial Drying Systems
- Cryogenic Applications
- Thermal Shielding Panels
- Custom Process Equipment
Technical Specifications
| Capacity | 1kW – 100kW (Customizable) |
| Max. Working Pressure | Internal Pressure: Up to 6 MPa External Pressure: Based on Structure Design |
| Operating Temperature | Based on Application Requirements |
| Material | Austenitic SS / Duplex SS / Titanium / Aluminum |
| Structure Type | Single / Double Embossed |
| Weld Pattern | Circular / Customizable |
| Surface Finish | Pickling / Passivation / Painting / Brushed |
Plate coil heat exchanger and pillow plate heat exchanger are often used interchangeably in the industry. Both are manufactured by laser welding two metal plates together and inflating them to form internal flow channels. Depending on the application and region, they may also be referred to as inflated plates, dimple plates, or laser-welded plates.
Yes. Plate coil heat exchangers are typically engineered according to the required heat duty, operating conditions, available installation space, and process requirements.
Custom options include:
Flow channel design
Plate dimensions
Material selection
Surface finishing
Connection types
Openings and instrumentation ports
Curved or vessel-mounted structures
Common materials include:
Stainless Steel 304 / 304L
Stainless Steel 316 / 316L
Duplex Stainless Steel 2205
Titanium
Aluminum
Material selection depends on process media, corrosion requirements, temperature range, and operating pressure.
Plate coil heat exchangers can be designed for a wide variety of thermal media, including:
Water
Steam
Glycol solutions
Thermal oil
Refrigerants
Cryogenic fluids
The optimal channel configuration is determined according to the fluid properties and heat-transfer requirements.
Plate coil heat exchangers are widely used in:
Tank heating and cooling systems
Food and beverage processing
Chemical and pharmaceutical plants
Falling film chillers
Heat recovery systems
Energy storage and battery thermal management
Industrial refrigeration systems
Their compact design and high heat-transfer efficiency make them suitable for both industrial and hygienic applications.
To recommend a suitable plate coil heat exchanger design, the following information is helpful:
Heating or cooling duty
Process media
Operating temperature
Operating pressure
Available installation dimensions
Preferred materials
Connection requirements
If complete data is not available, our engineering team can assist in evaluating the application and developing an appropriate solution.
Engineering Support for Custom Plate Coil Projects
Plate coil heat exchangers are typically designed around specific operating conditions rather than standard catalog sizes.
Our engineering team supports custom projects by reviewing thermal duty, media type, available installation space, operating pressure, and temperature requirements.
Whether you need a vessel jacket, immersion cooler, falling film chiller, heat recovery panel, or other thermal system, we can help evaluate the most suitable plate coil configuration for your application.
Typical project information includes:
- Heating or cooling duty
- Process media
- Operating temperature and pressure
- Available installation dimensions
- Connection requirements
- Material preferences
