Question 1

What information do I need to request a quotation?

Accepted Answer

As a minimum: coil duty (kW or flow rate and temperature differential), air volume, entering/leaving air temperatures, fluid type and concentration. Dimensions, connection sizes and handing are also helpful. For replacements, photographs and label data are usually sufficient.

Question 2

What are your typical lead times?

Accepted Answer

Standard coils: 2–4 weeks from order. Dry air coolers and condensers: 4–6 weeks depending on specification. We offer priority builds for urgent replacements — contact us with your deadline and we will confirm availability.

Question 3

Do you deliver across the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All products are manufactured at our Fareham facility and delivered UK-wide. International delivery is available on request.

Question 4

How quickly can I receive a quotation?

Accepted Answer

Most quotations are returned within one working day, complete with selection data, pressure drops and dimensional drawings.

Question 5

Do you supply one-off units or production runs only?

Accepted Answer

Both. We manufacture bespoke one-off coils and coolers as standard, alongside repeat production runs for OEM customers.

Question 6

What documentation is provided with each order?

Accepted Answer

All products are supplied with performance data, GA drawings, pressure test certificates and installation guidance. O&M manuals are available for download from our resources section.

Question 7

What types of heat exchange coil do you manufacture?

Accepted Answer

Chilled water cooling coils, hot water heating coils (LPHW and MPHW), steam heating coils, DX (direct expansion) cooling coils, and run around coils for heat recovery. All are built to order at our UK facility.

Question 8

What tube and fin configurations are available?

Accepted Answer

Standard construction uses ½″ or ⅝″ OD seamless copper tube mechanically expanded into collared aluminium plate fins. Tube pitch is 31.75 mm for ½″ and 50.8 mm for ⅝″. Row depths, fin spacings and circuit counts are specified to match your duty.

Question 9

How should a coil be installed?

Accepted Answer

All coils must be installed with tubes horizontal and level to allow effective air venting. Tubes must not be vertical or inclined upwards unless agreed at the design stage. Adequate access should be provided to both ends for inspection, cleaning and maintenance.

Question 10

Which direction should the water flow through a coil?

Accepted Answer

Water should enter the coil at the air leaving end. This produces counterflow heat transfer and gives the highest thermal efficiency.

Question 11

How are coils tested before dispatch?

Accepted Answer

All heat exchange coils are pressure tested to 16 bar with dry compressed air under water. DX coils and condenser coils are tested to 33 bar. Test certificates are supplied with every order.

Question 12

What connection types are available?

Accepted Answer

BSP male threaded and BS4504 PN16 bimetal flanged connections are standard. Other connection types can be accommodated on request.

Question 13

Can you manufacture coils to fit existing AHU or duct openings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every coil is built to your dimensions, including casing width, height and depth. We routinely produce coils to fit legacy AHU frames and non-standard duct sections.

Question 14

What applications are chilled water coils used for?

Accepted Answer

Air handling units (AHUs), fan coil units, computer room air handlers (CRAHs), cleanrooms, data centres and process cooling systems.

Question 15

What fluid types can be used?

Accepted Answer

Chilled water is standard. Water/glycol mixtures (typically ethylene or propylene glycol) are used where frost protection is required. The glycol concentration must be stated at quotation stage as it affects coil sizing.

Question 16

How do I maintain a chilled water coil?

Accepted Answer

Inspect fins quarterly and clean with low-pressure water or compressed air. Check for debris accumulation that increases air-side pressure drop. Ensure condensate drains are clear. Water-side, maintain inhibitor levels and check strainers periodically.

Question 17

Can you improve the performance of an existing chilled water coil?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes — by optimising fin spacing, increasing row depth or surface area, or upgrading materials. We can review your existing performance data and recommend improvements.

Question 18

What is the difference between LPHW and MPHW coils?

Accepted Answer

LPHW (low pressure hot water) coils typically operate below 90 °C flow temperature. MPHW (medium pressure hot water) coils operate at higher temperatures and pressures. Both are manufactured to the same standard — the design pressure and temperature determine the construction specification.

Question 19

Can hot water coils be used for duct-mounted heating?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We manufacture hot water coils for AHU, plenum and duct-mounted applications. Casings can be supplied to suit your duct dimensions.

Question 20

What maintenance do hot water coils require?

Accepted Answer

Inspect fins regularly for dirt accumulation. Clean with low-pressure air or water. Check pipework joints and valve glands for leaks. Ensure isolation valves and drain points are operational before the heating season.

Question 21

Why do steam coils require special installation attention?

Accepted Answer

Steam coils must be installed to promote condensate drainage. Improper installation can cause water hammer, freezing, and internal corrosion. Tubes must never be inclined upwards. Correct trap selection and condensate return pipework are essential.

Question 22

What steam pressures can your coils handle?

Accepted Answer

Our standard steam coils are pressure tested to 16 bar. Higher working pressures can be accommodated — confirm your operating pressure at the quotation stage.

Question 23

How should steam coils be piped?

Accepted Answer

Steam should enter at the top connection, with condensate leaving from the bottom. A properly sized steam trap must be installed on the condensate return. Vacuum breakers may be required depending on system design. Piping should comply with relevant local codes of practice.

Question 24

What causes steam coil failure?

Accepted Answer

The most common causes are water hammer from poor condensate drainage, corrosion from oxygen ingress, and freezing during shutdown periods. Correct installation, trapping and freeze protection significantly extend service life.

Question 25

What is a DX coil and how does it differ from a chilled water coil?

Accepted Answer

A DX (direct expansion) coil evaporates refrigerant directly within the coil tubes to cool air. A chilled water coil uses cold water or glycol circulated from a remote chiller. DX coils require specific circuiting, distributor sizing and superheat control — different to water coil design.

Question 26

Which refrigerants can your DX coils be used with?

Accepted Answer

Our DX coils can be designed for R410A, R32, R454B, R407C, CO₂ (R744) and other refrigerants including low-GWP alternatives. State your refrigerant at the quotation stage as it affects circuiting and test pressure.

Question 27

Are DX coils supplied charged with refrigerant?

Accepted Answer

No. All DX coils are pressure tested, vacuum dehydrated and sealed with a nitrogen holding charge. Refrigerant charging is carried out on site by the installing contractor.

Question 28

What test pressure is used for DX coils?

Accepted Answer

DX coils are pressure tested to 33 bar with dry compressed air under water, then vacuum dehydrated and sealed under nitrogen.

Question 29

How does a run around coil system work?

Accepted Answer

A run around system uses a matched pair of coils — one in the extract air stream, one in the supply air stream — connected by a closed-loop pipework circuit containing water/glycol. Heat recovered from the exhaust air is transferred to the incoming fresh air supply.

Question 30

Can run around coils provide free cooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In summer, the system can operate in reverse to provide free cooling by rejecting heat from the supply air to the cooler exhaust air stream, reducing mechanical cooling load.

Question 31

What efficiency can be expected from a run around system?

Accepted Answer

Typical heat recovery efficiencies are 45–65%, depending on coil specification, airflow and temperature differential. We can optimise the coil design to maximise recovery for your operating conditions.

Question 32

What is a dry air cooler?

Accepted Answer

A dry air cooler rejects heat from a closed-loop fluid circuit (water or glycol) to ambient air using finned-tube heat exchangers and axial fans. No water is consumed in the cooling process, and no chemical water treatment is required.

Question 33

What model ranges do you offer?

Accepted Answer

HCL (37–550 kW), M (53–720 kW), NV/NW (48–1004 kW), V/BV (150–1086 kW). Available with 6, 8, 10, 12 or 16 pole fan motors in horizontal or vertical airflow configurations.

Question 34

What applications are dry air coolers used for?

Accepted Answer

Data centres, water-cooled air conditioning, industrial process cooling, CHP waste heat rejection, transformer cooling, plastic moulding machines, engine cooling and free cooling systems.

Question 35

What fan options are available?

Accepted Answer

Standard AC motors (IP55, Class F insulated, 380/420V 3ph 50Hz) or EC fans for variable speed control, lower noise and reduced energy consumption. Other voltages, 60 Hz and ATEX flameproof motors are available.

Question 36

What is the casing construction?

Accepted Answer

Heavy gauge galvanised sheet steel finished in polyester powder coat to BS4800 00A05 (Goose Wing Grey). Stainless steel casings are available for corrosive or washdown environments.

Question 37

How should a dry air cooler be commissioned?

Accepted Answer

Fill the system with the specified water/glycol solution, vent all air, set pumps to design flow rate, check electrical connections and overload settings, verify fan rotation direction. Then apply cooling load and record entering/leaving fluid temperatures and ambient temperature.

Question 38

What ongoing maintenance is required?

Accepted Answer

Inspect and clean fins periodically to remove debris that impedes airflow. Check fan bearings, motor connections and vibration. Verify fluid levels and glycol concentration. Inspect the coil for signs of corrosion or physical damage.

Question 39

Can dry air coolers be used for free cooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When ambient temperatures are low enough, a dry air cooler connected to a chilled water circuit can provide free cooling, reducing or eliminating the need for mechanical refrigeration.

Question 40

How does an adiabatic cooler differ from a standard dry cooler?

Accepted Answer

An adiabatic cooler pre-cools the incoming air by spraying water into the air stream before it reaches the coil. This lowers the dry bulb temperature, improving heat rejection efficiency during peak ambient conditions — while using significantly less water than an open cooling tower.

Question 41

When does the adiabatic system activate?

Accepted Answer

Adiabatic mode activates only when ambient temperatures exceed the point where dry cooling alone cannot maintain the required fluid temperature. A control system modulates the water spray based on ambient conditions and cooling demand.

Question 42

What water supply is required?

Accepted Answer

A mains water connection with a double check valve (to comply with water supply regulations). The water distribution pipework must include drain points and should be fully drained during winter to prevent frost damage. Trace heating and insulation may also be required.

Question 43

How much water does an adiabatic cooler consume?

Accepted Answer

Significantly less than an open cooling tower. Water is only used during peak conditions. Exact consumption depends on operating hours, ambient temperature profile and system duty.

Question 44

What maintenance does the adiabatic system require?

Accepted Answer

Drain the water distribution pipework during winter. Inspect spray nozzles and clean or replace as needed. Check the water control valve, solenoid and filter. Maintain the coil fins as per standard dry cooler maintenance. Any cleaning chemicals must be compatible with copper and silver.

Question 45

What is an air cooled condenser?

Accepted Answer

An air cooled condenser rejects heat from a refrigerant system to ambient air. The refrigerant gas enters the condenser, is cooled by air passing over the finned-tube coil, and condenses back to liquid for return to the system.

Question 46

What model ranges are available for condensers?

Accepted Answer

HCL (40–504 kW), M (58–824 kW), NV/NW (50–1052 kW), V/BV (150–1086 kW). Same casing and fan options as our dry cooler range, with condenser-specific coil construction.

Question 47

How do condenser coils differ from dry cooler coils?

Accepted Answer

Condenser coils use internally grooved copper tubes for improved refrigerant heat transfer, are pressure tested to 33 bar (versus 16 bar for water coils), and are vacuum dehydrated and sealed with a nitrogen holding charge.

Question 48

Can condensers be supplied with ATEX-rated components?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer ATEX-rated fans and fittings for installations in hazardous environments. Marine-grade coatings are also available for coastal and offshore applications.

Question 49

What controls are available for condenser fan cycling?

Accepted Answer

Fan cycling control maintains head pressure by switching fans on and off based on condensing pressure. This is the most common control method. EC fan speed control provides finer modulation and lower noise at part load.

Question 50

What types of industrial air cooler do you manufacture?

Accepted Answer

Ceiling mounted (CCZ series), dual discharge (DDS short throw and DDL long throw) and floor mounted (FV vertical discharge and FVH high-capacity). All designed for cold stores, food processing and industrial environments.

Question 51

What fin spacings are available for industrial coolers?

Accepted Answer

Standard fin spacings are 4 mm and 6 mm. Wider spacings are used for lower temperature applications where frost build-up is expected. The appropriate spacing depends on operating temperature, defrost method and product type.

Question 52

What defrost options are available?

Accepted Answer

Electric defrost and hot gas defrost. The defrost method is selected based on the operating temperature, system refrigerant and site requirements.

Question 53

Can your industrial coolers operate with ammonia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We manufacture coils compatible with ammonia (R717) refrigerant systems for cold store and industrial refrigeration applications.

Question 54

What is the construction of DDS dual discharge coolers?

Accepted Answer

½″ OD copper tubes mechanically expanded into aluminium fins at 4 mm or 6 mm spacing. The coil is pressure tested to 25 bar, vacuum dehydrated and sealed with a nitrogen holding charge. The casing is powder-coated galvanised steel.

Question 55

I do not have drawings for the existing coil — can you still manufacture a replacement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Send us photographs, overall dimensions (height, width, depth), connection sizes and positions, and the label or nameplate data if available. We can reverse-engineer a replacement from this information.

Question 56

Can you replace coils from other manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We regularly manufacture replacements for coils from any manufacturer, regardless of make or age. If the original is obsolete, we can design an equivalent or improved version.

Question 57

Can performance be improved over the original coil?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. We can review the original specification and recommend changes to fin spacing, row depth, surface area or materials that improve capacity or reduce pressure drop within the same physical envelope.

Question 58

How quickly can a replacement coil be manufactured?

Accepted Answer

Standard replacements: 2–4 weeks. We offer priority manufacturing for emergency replacements where downtime is critical — contact us with your deadline.

Question 59

Are replacement coils pressure tested?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every replacement coil is pressure tested before dispatch, using the same test procedures as new-build coils. Test certificates are supplied as standard.

Question 60

What fin materials are available?

Accepted Answer

Aluminium (standard, good thermal transfer), copper (for aggressive environments, longer service life) and tinned copper (meeting hospital HTM specifications for high-humidity environments).

Question 61

What protective coatings do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Polyester on aluminium (basic moisture protection), Heresite on aluminium or copper (excellent for aggressive gases and salt-laden air), BlyGold (full post-assembly coil protection for coastal and chemical environments) and BronzeGlow (general corrosion protection).

Question 62

How do I choose the right coating for my application?

Accepted Answer

Consider: Is the coil exposed to outdoor air, salt spray or chemical contaminants? What is the expected service life? Is the environment subject to washdown? We can recommend the appropriate material and coating combination based on your site conditions.

Question 63

What casing materials are available?

Accepted Answer

Galvanised steel (standard), stainless steel 304 or 316 (for food, pharmaceutical, washdown or exposed locations) and powder-coated galvanised steel (corrosion protection with colour options).

Question 64

Do you supply control panels with your coolers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We supply bespoke control panels designed to work with our dry air coolers, adiabatic coolers and coil systems. Panels can include EC fan speed modulation, temperature sensor inputs, adiabatic mode activation and alarm functions.

Frequently Asked Questions