AHRI Certified · PED Compliant · ISO 9001

AlfaTherm Precision Heat Transfer Engineering

High-performance plate heat exchangers, shell-and-tube systems, and thermal management solutions engineered for maximum coefficient of performance across food processing, pharmaceutical, data center, and chemical industries.

AlfaTherm industrial plate heat exchanger systems
Since 1998 Founded in Houston, TX
15,000+ Installations Worldwide
74 Countries Served
5 Global Certifications

Thermal Equipment Portfolio

Engineered heat transfer solutions spanning plate, brazed, shell-and-tube, and air-cooled configurations with AHRI-certified performance ratings.

Plate heat exchangers

Plate Heat Exchangers

Gasketed and semi-welded plate heat exchangers delivering heat transfer coefficients 3-5x higher than shell-and-tube designs. AHRI 400 certified.

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Brazed plate heat exchangers

Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers

Vacuum-brazed compact units for HVAC, refrigeration, and process cooling. Operating pressures up to 30 bar with approach temperatures under 1°C.

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Shell and tube heat exchangers

Shell & Tube Systems

ASME U-Stamp certified shell-and-tube heat exchangers for high-pressure, high-temperature, and fouling-prone applications up to 300°C and 25 bar.

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Industrial boilers

Industrial Boilers

Steam and hot water boilers rated up to 2,000 kg/h steam output. Gas-fired and dual-fuel configurations with NFPA and PED compliance.

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Condensers and evaporators

Condensers & Evaporators

Air-cooled condensers, evaporative condensers, and evaporator coils optimized for refrigerant systems using R-134a, R-290, and R-744 (CO2).

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Data center cooling solutions

Data Center Cooling

Precision cooling solutions combining free cooling, direct liquid cooling, and rear-door heat exchangers for PUE targets below 1.2.

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Plate heat exchanger flow dynamics

Engineered for Thermal Precision

Every AlfaTherm heat exchanger is designed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to optimize log mean temperature difference (LMTD), minimize fouling factors, and achieve approach temperatures as low as 0.5°C.

COP 5.8 Peak coefficient of performance on water-cooled chiller configurations
0.5°C Minimum approach temperature with counter-flow plate geometry
IPLV 0.42 Integrated part load value for variable frequency drive equipped systems
< 0.1 GWP Natural refrigerant platforms supporting R-744 and R-290 transitions

Industry Applications

Thermal solutions engineered for the specific temperature profiles, sanitary requirements, and regulatory frameworks of each sector.

Food & Beverage

HACCP-compatible pasteurization, CIP-ready heat exchangers, and glycol-based process cooling from +95°C to -40°C.

Pharmaceutical

Clean room rated thermal systems with ±0.1°C temperature control for API synthesis, lyophilization, and cold chain integrity.

Data Centers

Free cooling economizers, rear-door heat exchangers, and immersion cooling systems targeting PUE below 1.15.

Chemical Processing

Corrosion-resistant heat exchangers in titanium, Hastelloy, and duplex stainless steel for aggressive media up to 300°C.

Marine & Offshore

DNV/GL certified compact plate heat exchangers for engine cooling, freshwater generation, and HVAC on vessels and platforms.

Power Generation

High-pressure feedwater heaters, turbine oil coolers, and waste heat recovery systems for combined cycle and cogeneration plants.

Engineering Case Studies

Selected thermal system installations demonstrating measurable process improvements across industries.

Food & Beverage

Dairy Pasteurization Line Retrofit

A mid-scale dairy processing plant in the Netherlands operating at 45,000 L/hr milk throughput required replacing aging tubular heat exchangers with 12 years of calcium fouling buildup. AlfaTherm installed 6 gasketed plate heat exchangers (Model AT-GP120, 316L stainless steel, 18 m² heat transfer area each) with EHEDG-compliant CIP connections. Post-commissioning thermal testing per AHRI 400 confirmed approach temperatures of 0.8°C versus the previous 3.2°C, reducing steam consumption by 22% and cutting annual energy costs by approximately EUR 48,000. Cleaning intervals extended from 8 hours to 14 hours between CIP cycles.

Data Center

Free Cooling Conversion for Colocation Facility

A 12 MW colocation data center in Frankfurt, Germany with legacy DX cooling running at PUE 1.65 engaged AlfaTherm to design a free cooling retrofit. The project deployed 8 brazed plate heat exchangers (Model AT-BPX80, 40 bar design pressure) integrated with a new glycol loop and variable-speed dry coolers. Commissioning in Q4 2023 measured PUE at 1.18 during winter months (outdoor air below 12°C) and 1.32 during summer peak. Annual electricity savings reached 2.8 GWh, corresponding to approximately EUR 420,000 at prevailing German industrial rates.

Chemical Processing

Acid Cooler Replacement for Sulfuric Acid Plant

A chemical facility in Texas processing 98% concentrated sulfuric acid at 180°C experienced tube failures every 9 months on carbon steel shell-and-tube coolers. AlfaTherm engineered a replacement using 2 semi-welded plate heat exchangers with Hastelloy C-276 plates (Model AT-SW60, 25 bar design, ASME U-Stamp certified). After 24 months of continuous operation, zero plate failures were recorded. Acid outlet temperature stability improved to ±1.5°C versus the previous ±4°C variance, reducing downstream process upsets by 85%.

Ready to Optimize Your Thermal System?

Our engineering team provides free heat exchanger sizing, selection guidance, and ROI calculations for your specific application parameters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Plate heat exchangers (PHE) offer 3-5x higher heat transfer coefficients in a compact footprint, making them ideal for clean fluids and moderate pressures. Shell-and-tube exchangers handle higher pressures (above 25 bar), temperatures (above 300°C), and are more tolerant of fouling and particulate-laden media. The optimal choice depends on your fluid properties, operating conditions, and maintenance access requirements.

Heat exchanger sizing requires calculating the thermal duty (kW), determining the log mean temperature difference (LMTD), selecting appropriate fouling factors, and accounting for pressure drop constraints. Our engineering team uses proprietary selection software that factors in your specific fluid properties, flow rates, and operating temperatures to recommend the optimal configuration. Contact us for a free sizing calculation.

All AlfaTherm heat exchangers are AHRI Performance Certified per AHRI Standard 400. Our pressure vessels carry the ASME U-Stamp and comply with the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU). Manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001:2015 certified, and all products bear the CE marking for European market compliance.

Yes. AlfaTherm offers heat exchangers specifically designed for natural refrigerants including R-744 (CO2) transcritical systems, R-717 (ammonia) industrial refrigeration, and R-290 (propane) commercial applications. Our designs account for the higher operating pressures of CO2 systems (up to 130 bar) and the safety requirements for flammable and toxic refrigerants per ISO 5149.