Air-cooled heat exchangers, often called air fins or fin fans, use ambient air instead of cooling water to remove heat from process fluids. They are common in refineries, gas processing and chemical plants, especially where water is limited or expensive. Alabama Heat Exchangers fabricates and repairs air-cooled heat exchangers built for demanding service.
Rugged equipment for process service
Our shop has built heavy-duty air fin exchangers for refinery service, including an 8-foot by 20-foot carbon steel unit for a local refinery. Each unit is built to the ASME code and the customer’s specification, with the same welding, fitting and quality control we apply to every project.
Air-cooled vs. shell and tube heat exchangers
Air-cooled exchangers eliminate the need for cooling water, reduce water treatment costs and avoid cooling tower issues. Shell and tube heat exchangers are typically more compact and better suited to tight approach temperatures. Our team can help you evaluate which design fits your process.
Fabrication and repair
- New air-cooled heat exchanger fabrication
- Header fabrication and repair
- Replacement equipment built to existing dimensions
- Weld repairs and pressure testing
Frequently asked questions
An air-cooled heat exchanger cools a process fluid flowing through finned tubes by moving ambient air across them with fans. It removes heat without using cooling water.
Air-cooled exchangers are often preferred where cooling water is scarce or costly, or where avoiding water treatment and cooling tower maintenance is a priority. Shell and tube exchangers are usually more compact and handle closer temperature approaches.