(OFF-THE-SHELF) COMPACT/MINIATURE HEAT EXCHANGERS

Outperforms standard small heat exchangers.

VPE Thermal offers its diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchanger technology in a wide selection of compact-sized, commercial (off-the-shelf) compact/miniature heat exchangers.  Furthermore, these high-reliability, compact heat exchangers outperform the standard products such as shell & tube, brazed plate, as well as welded plate heat exchangers.

Inside a Diffusion Bonded Microchannel Heat Exchanger

VPE THERMAL® manufactures the compact/miniature heat exchangers in the same way as its diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchangers.  To illustrate, here is a general overview of fabricating a diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchanger, also known as a printed circuit heat exchanger:

  1. The VPE THERMAL® engineering team calculates the design needed to meet the requirements of the heat exchanger.
  2. An outside manufacturer etches plates or shims with the flow design.
  3. Technicians assemble the shims in a counter-flow configuration.
  4. The stacked plates are diffusion bonded to create a solid heat exchanger core without gaskets.  Perfected since 1976, VPE’s proven diffusion bonding process ensures parent material strength throughout the core of the heat exchanger.
  5. The diffusion bonded core is machined to size at VPE’s machine shop.
  6. The welding team joins the required manifolds, flanges, and components to the core of the heat exchanger.
  7. A Technician carefully cleans and tests the heat exchanger to verify it is leak-proof.
  8. VPE THERMAL® diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchangers are “U” or “UM” stamped and meet the requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
diffusion bonded heat exchanger

Advantages Over Standard Small Heat Exchangers

Miniature diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchangers will significantly outperform standard small heat exchangers such as shell & tube, brazed plate, as well as welded plate heat exchangers.  Advantages e.g.:

  1. Significantly more surface area.
  2. Higher heat transfer coefficient.
  3. Higher operating pressure capability.
  4. Higher temperature capability – only limited by the material.
  5. There is a higher geometry factor – pure counterflow.
  6. Smaller footprint as well as weight.
  7. Diffusion bonded as opposed to brazed.  As a result, there is high leak integrity with no braze alloy being necessary.
  8. Lower fluid inventory.
  9. Exceptional mechanical performance in terms of handling transients, as well as thermal stress (suitable for larger temperature differences).
  10. Resistant to freezing
  11. Readily customizable for multi-stream, ultra-high pressure, low MW gases, sCO2, etc.
  12. Corrosion-resistant alloys are used.
  13. Competitive pricing.
miniature heat exchangers

General Uses for VPE’s Compact/Miniature Heat Exchangers

General uses for commercial (off-the-shelf) small heat exchangers e.g.:

  • Replacement for Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers
  • Replacement for Brazed Plate as well as Welded Plate Heat Exchangers
  • Robust service e.g.: high temperature as wells as high pressure
  • Precise temperature control
  • Processing equipment
  • Cooling as well as heating e.g.: fluids and gases
  • Organic solvent processing
  • Condensing as well as evaporating
  • Cryogenic cooling / refrigeration
  • Botanical Extraction Applications
  • Recuperators
  • Regenerators
  • Aftercoolers

Industries & Applications

The diffusion bonded microchannel heat exchanger technology can be used to improve and replace standard small heat exchangers in many industries e.g.:

Applications e.g.:

  • Cryogenic to 800°C+ temperature rating
  • Condensers as well as evaporators
  • Reaction stabilization
  • Recuperators

Applications e.g.:

  • sCO2 recuperators
  • Concentrated solar
  • Particulate “fluid” to molten salt

Applications e.g.:

  • Test loops
  • Plasma conditioning systems
  • Proof-of-concept

Applications e.g.:

  • Recirculators
  • Chuck cooling
  • Chamber cooling
  • Magnetron source loop
  • Laser chip cooling

Applications e.g.:

  • Pre-coolers – 1000+ barg pressure rating
  • Condensers as well as evaporators
  • Refrigeration
  • Recuperators

Applications e.g.:

  • Module coolers
  • Chassis cooling
  • Ship board compressor service

Applications e.g.:

  • CO2 Extraction
  • Oil Extraction
  • Botanical Extraction
  • Swimming Pools
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Battery manufacturing
  • Paint heating
  • Polymer processing
  • Freeze drying

Applications e.g.:

  • Lube oil cooling
  • After coolers
  • Intercoolers
  • Titanium non-corrosive heat exchangers available

Applications e.g.:

  • Seawater service
  • Saltwater / Oil Cooling
  • Battery manufacturing
  • Pasteurization

Commercial Off-The-Shelf Availability

Commercial off-the-shelf models are available below under the Series A and Series B lines of compact/miniature heat exchangers.

In addition, there are some basic modifications to the models you may consider such as:

  • Configuration of inlets as well as outlets
  • Connector choice and size: NPT female, NPT male, Pipe, as well as Seamless tubing

VPE wants to make sure and fit you with the best model heat exchanger for your requirements.  Accordingly, after reviewing your operating conditions, we will match you with the best model or offer a custom-designed option.

If you are ready with the operating condition information, please press the “Submit Heat Exchanger Requirements” button and enter the details.

If you do not have all the information required, our thermal engineers can help you through the process.  Please reach out to VPE by pressing the “Contact VPE” button or emailing us at info@vpei.com.

Series A

Models A11, A21, A31, A41

The core’s length remains at 10 inches.

The core’s width increases by 1/2 inch per model.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers

miniature heat exchangers
Model A11
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1 x 10 x 1
miniature heat exchangers
MODEL A21
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1.5 X 10 X 1.5
miniature heat exchangers
MODEL A31
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2 X 10 X 2
miniature heat exchangers
MODEL A41
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2.5 X 10 X 2.5

Series A

Models A12, A22, A32, A42

The core’s length remains at 20 inches.

The core’s width increases by 1/2 inch per model.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
MODEL A12
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1 X 20 X 1
MODEL A22
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1.5 X 20 X 1.5
MODEL A32
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2 X 20 X 2
MODEL A42
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2.5 X 20 X 2.5

Series A

Models A13, A23, A33, A43

The core’s length remains at 30 inches.

The core’s width increases by 1/2 inch per model.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
MODEL A13
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1 X 30 X 1 IN
microchannel heat exchangers
MODEL A23
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 1.5 X 30 X 1.5
printed circuit heat exchangers
MODEL A33
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2 X 30 X 2
printed circuit heat exchangers
MODEL A43
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 2.5 X 30 X 2.5

Series B

Models B11, B21, B31

The core’s length remains at 10 inches.

The core’s width remains at 3 inches.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
MODEL B11
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 10 X 1.5
printed circuit heat exchangers
MODEL B21
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 10 X 2
MODEL B31
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 10 X 2.5

Series B

Models B12, B22, B32

The core’s length remains at 16 inches.

The core’s width remains at 3 inches.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
MODEL B12
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 16 X 1.5
MODEL B22
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 16 X 2
compact heat exchangers
MODEL B32
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 3 X 16 X 2.5 IN

Series B

Models B13, B23, B33

The core’s length remains at 12 inches.

The core’s width remains at 4 inches.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
compact heat exchangers
MODEL B13
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 12 X 1.5
compact heat exchangers
MODEL B23
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 12 X 2
MODEL B33
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 12 X 2.5

Series B

Models B14, B24, B34

The core’s length remains at 24 inches.

The core’s width remains at 4 inches.

The core’s height increases by 1/2 inch per model.

miniature heat exchangers
MODEL B14
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 24 X 1.5
MODEL B24
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 24 X 2
MODEL B34
Stainless Steel or Aluminum or Titanium
CORE (W x L x H) (IN.): 4 X 24 X 2.5