Cenerge pillow plates are special heat exchanger plates consisting of two stainless steel sheets that are laser welded together in a custom pattern. The plate boundary is completely laser welded to create a pressure-tight seal (Figure 1). These laser welded plates are then hydraulically inflated using a hydrostatic pump or inflated using dry nitrogen gas. During inflation, the two stainless steel sheets deform and form cavities (Figure 2), creating a flow path for the heat transfer medium. Cenerge pillow plates can be used with either refrigerants, liquids or steam.
Figure 1: Pressure Tight Seal Across the Border
Figure 2: Cross Sectional View of Inflated Plate
Cenerge pillow plates are made to order and are completely customized to your specifications. First we understand the end application and then we work with our engineers to offer a complete solution tailor fitted for your application. This gives us flexibility with a lot of design parameters including the material of construction, sheet thickness, choice of end connections, surface finish and an option of single/double embossed plates. Additionally, as required, we offer pillow plates with a line or a diamond weld pattern.
Cenerge pillow plates can be manufactured using SS 304 / SS 304L / SS 316 / SS 316L materials. Furthermore, you can also choose from a variety of sheet thicknesses to meet your requirements. If you wish to use other materials, please contact us and we will be able to help you with your requirement.
One of the major aspects taken into consideration while customising a pillow plate heat exchanger is the flow pattern. Diamond pattern is the most commonly and widely used pattern for making pillow plates. Spots of desired sizes are welded in a diamond pattern on the metal sheets before inflation. These welded spots provide resistance along the flow path, thereby generating a turbulent flow and providing a faster and more efficient heat transfer. Flow lines can further be welded in the pillow plate to guide the heat transfer medium in a particular path.
Another commonly used welding pattern for pillow plates is the line pattern. Like the name suggests, the two metal plates are welded along straight lines to provide a flow path for the heat transfer medium. The end result looks very similar to tube shaped heat exchangers. However, Line Pattern Pillow Plate Heat Exchangers do not require ant tubes to carry the fluid. The inflated flow path itself carries the heat transfer medium through the plate in a highly efficient manner along the path created.
Single Embossed Pillow Plate consists of two metal sheets with one sheet thicker than the other. During the inflation step, the thinner sheet deforms and the thicker sheet remains completely flat. This kind of flat surface is required for sanitary product applications.
Figure 3: Single Embossed Pillow Plate Heat Exchanger
Double Embossed Pillow Plate consists of two sheets with the same thickness. During the inflation step, both sheets deform uniformly providing a flow path for the heat transfer medium.
Figure 4: Double Embossed Pillow Plate Heat Exchanger
Cenerge pillow plates can be offered in various surface finishes:
