Embedded Files
FORCED DRAFT DESIGN
FORCED DRAFT DESIGN
Fin Fan Heat Exchangers – Engineered for Global Performance
Fin Fan Heat Exchangers – Engineered for Global Performance
Petromarsh, in collaboration with trusted partners like Spiro Gills, offers high-performance fin fan (air-cooled) heat exchangers designed for a wide range of industrial and energy applications around the world. These units are engineered using HTRI thermal design software and produced with precision CNC manufacturing technology to ensure maximum reliability, efficiency, and durability.
Forced Draft Heat Exchangers (Fin Fan Coolers)
Forced Draft Heat Exchangers (Fin Fan Coolers)
Forced draft heat exchangers, commonly known as fin fan coolers or air-cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs), are an energy-efficient and low-maintenance cooling solution ideal for industrial processes in remote or dry environments. At Petromarsh, we specialize in designing and supplying high-performance forced draft coolers tailored to your specific operating conditions.
How Forced Draft Heat Exchangers Work
How Forced Draft Heat Exchangers Work
In forced draft systems, large axial fans push ambient air across finned tube bundles, enabling heat transfer from the process fluid inside the tubes to the surrounding air. The tubes are arranged in staggered arrays, which increases airflow turbulence and optimizes thermal exchange.
Tube Materials: Carbon steel or stainless steel
Fin Materials: Aluminium or copper (selected based on application and corrosion risk)
This configuration enhances performance while maintaining long-term durability in challenging operating environments.
Design Considerations
Design Considerations
Designing an effective forced draft heat exchanger requires careful attention to several variables:
Fluid or gas properties (viscosity, density, flow rate)
Inlet (process) temperature
Ambient air temperature
Target outlet temperature
Environmental factors (dust, humidity, salinity)
At Petromarsh, we use advanced thermal modeling tools and real-world performance data to ensure precise thermal sizing and optimal cooling capacity.
Key Benefits of Forced Draft Fin Fan Coolers
Key Benefits of Forced Draft Fin Fan Coolers
No water required – ideal for arid and remote installations
Lower environmental impact – avoids the use of refrigerants or cooling fluids
Simplified system – no compressors, pumps, or pressurized gas cycles
Low maintenance – fewer moving parts and no risk of chemical corrosion from cooling fluids
Ambient-limited cooling – can cool fluids down to near ambient temperature
Flexible installation – suitable for rooftop or elevated mounting with vertical air discharge
Space-efficient design – rectangular block layout integrates easily into plant footprints
Optimized Shape & Structural Integration
Optimized Shape & Structural Integration
While cylindrical pressure vessels are common in thermal systems due to their even pressure distribution, the square configuration of air blast coolers provides practical advantages. They fit efficiently into facility layouts without wasted side space, making them ideal for modern factories, process lines, and modular plants.
Additionally, our units can be designed for rooftop mounting or structural integration, ensuring unobstructed vertical airflow and safe heat dispersion.
Whether you’re upgrading existing equipment or building a new system from scratch, Petromarsh offers expert engineering support and reliable solutions in air-cooled heat exchanger technology. Contact us to discuss your thermal challenges and receive a custom design recommendation.
Air Cooled Heat Exchangers
Engineered for Longevity, Efficiency, and Harsh Environments
Engineered for Longevity, Efficiency, and Harsh Environments
With over 70 years of experience, our trusted partner Spiro Gills is a globally recognized leader in the manufacture of air cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs). Leveraging modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD), HTRI thermal design software, and decades of engineering expertise, Spiro Gills delivers robust, high-performance coolers that meet the rigorous demands of industries such as oil & gas, energy production, and industrial process cooling.
At Petromarsh, we integrate this legacy of innovation with our regional market knowledge to provide custom cooling solutions across the Middle East and beyond.
Why Air Cooled Heat Exchangers?
Why Air Cooled Heat Exchangers?
Air cooled heat exchangers (also known as fin fan coolers) provide efficient heat rejection without the need for water. This makes them ideal for remote, arid, and water-restricted environments. Our solutions cover both:
Forced Draft Designs – Fans push cool air across the finned tube bundle
Induced Draft Designs – Fans pull air through the bundle for more uniform airflow
Advantages of Forced Draft ACHEs
Advantages of Forced Draft ACHEs
Spiro Gills specializes in forced draft air cooled heat exchangers, which offer distinct advantages in performance, cost, and maintenance:
Lower cost of manufacturing – Fewer components and structural requirements
Improved maintenance access – Easier access to motors, fans, and drives
Extended mechanical life – Drive systems are protected from hot exhaust air
Energy-efficient performance – Cool ambient air is pushed through fin bundles
Simple, modular design – Easily integrated into new or retrofit installations
Engineering Excellence – Backed by In-House Manufacturing
Engineering Excellence – Backed by In-House Manufacturing
Our ACHE systems are fully vertically integrated, meaning every component is engineered, manufactured, and tested under strict quality control:
Thermal Design using HTRI software for accurate heat rejection
Mechanical Design of headers, supports, and frame structures
In-house Fin Tube Production – Steel or stainless steel tubes with aluminium, copper, or alloy fins
ASME-certified manufacturing for all steel and stainless-steel builds
High-frequency fin welding using Thermatool equipment for maximum thermal contact and durability
Real-World Reliability: Proven in Our Own Factory
Real-World Reliability: Proven in Our Own Factory
We don’t just build ACHEs—we use them ourselves. Our production lines include small-scale forced air coolers to recirculate cooling water used in our fin welding process. These systems help us:
Reduce water consumption
Lower disposal costs
Minimize Legionella risks
This operational use demonstrates our confidence in the reliability and efficiency of our heat exchanger designs.
Built to Last – Backed by Global Clients
Built to Last – Backed by Global Clients
Many Spiro Gills air-cooled units remain in operation after 30+ years, with clients returning for replacements, retrofits, and upgrades. We regularly re-engineer and manufacture new units based on legacy builds, offering clients continuity and significant cost savings over OEM parts.
Custom Solutions for Any Space
Custom Solutions for Any Space
Every process plant is unique. That’s why our engineering team will work closely with you to:
Assess inlet, outlet, and ambient temperatures
Analyze fluid or gas properties
Understand space limitations and environmental conditions
Provide accurate layout drawings, specs, and pricing proposals
No matter how challenging your site, Petromarsh and Spiro Gills have the experience to engineer a solution that works.
Services We Provide
Services We Provide
We support every project with a full suite of technical and commercial services:
Full thermal and mechanical design
Noise level assessments
Specification sheet preparation
General arrangement drawings
Technical proposals and pricing
Contact us today to discuss your cooling requirements. Whether you're working on a greenfield project or replacing legacy units, we deliver durable, efficient, and cost-effective air cooled heat exchangers for critical industrial applications.
Page updated
Report abuse