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Custom Coil Heat Exchanger Design & Manufacture

Safe Professional Innovative
Developed for complex thermal expansion and duty requirements, coil heat exchangers, ranging from helical vessel-mounted coils to tank heating and subsea cooling units, are designed for high-performance operation in demanding environments.

What are the Advantages of a Coil Heat Exchanger?

Coil heat exchangers offer several distinct advantages, most notably their ability to accommodate significant thermal expansion without mechanical stress, as the coiled shape naturally "breathes." They are also highly efficient; the centrifugal forces generated by the helical path create secondary "Dean vortices" that improve fluid mixing and increase the heat transfer rate. Their compact, circular geometry allows them to pack a large surface area into a small volume, making them ideal for space-constrained installations.

Coil Heat Exchanger

Where are Helical & Pancake Coils Used?

Helical coils are typically used within vessels or reactors—with or without agitation—to maintain precise temperature control during chemical reactions. Pancake coils are frequently employed for tank heating via natural convection or as exposed "atmospheric" coils mounted sub-sea or outdoors for fluid cooling and condensing. They are a preferred solution in the nuclear, pharmaceutical, and sub-sea sectors where reliability and compact design are paramount.

Technical Capabilities & Specifications

FeatureSpecification / Capability
Coil Types
Helical (Spiral), Pancake (Flat), and Manifolded bundles
Mounting
Vessel-mounted (internal), Tank-mounted, or Sub-sea (exposed)
Thermal Efficiency
Enhanced via secondary flow / Dean vortices
Expansion Handling
Inherently handles high temperature differentials (No bellows required)
Design Standards
PD 5500, EN 13445, ASME VIII, and bespoke nuclear standards
Materials
Stainless Steel, Duplex, Titanium, Hastelloy, and High-Nickel alloys

The Graham Hart Process Technology Difference

In high-temperature applications, long straight tubes often face severe mechanical fatigue due to thermal expansion. This leads to tubesheet failures or the need for expensive expansion bellows. Furthermore, in "low-approach" duties, a traditional exchanger may become prohibitively large to achieve the required surface area.

At Graham Hart Process Technology, we solve the "Why" of process cooling and heating by leveraging the physics of the coil. Our engineers use advanced thermal modelling to calculate the specific enhancement factors provided by the helical geometry. By coiling the tubes, we eliminate the risk of thermal stress while increasing the heat transfer coefficient. Whether it is a safety-critical sample cooler for a nuclear plant or an ultra-clean coil for a pharmaceutical reactor, we deliver a unit that is mechanically robust and thermally superior to "off-the-shelf" straight-tube solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a helical coil more efficient than a straight tube?

The curvature of a helical coil forces the fluid to experience centrifugal acceleration. This creates a secondary flow perpendicular to the main flow direction (Dean flow), which enhances turbulence and fluid mixing. This results in a higher heat transfer coefficient and better temperature uniformity compared to a straight pipe of the same length.

Can coil heat exchangers handle high-pressure fluids?

Yes. Due to their cylindrical cross-section and the lack of flat pressure-bearing surfaces, coil heat exchangers are exceptionally strong. Graham Hart Process Technology designs these units to handle high-pressure process fluids, often exceeding several hundred bar, depending on the material and wall thickness specified.

How do you prevent fouling in coil heat exchangers?

The increased turbulence induced by the coiled geometry provides a "self-scrubbing" effect that can reduce the rate of fouling compared to laminar flow in straight tubes. For applications where cleaning is critical, Graham Hart Process Technology designs coils that are easily removable from vessels for external mechanical cleaning or chemical flushing.

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