What the application demands
| Requirement | What it means in the design |
|---|---|
| Cleanliness | The heat exchanger sits inside or next to the process tool. It must not shed particles, and surface finish and weld quality matter. |
| Temperature control and response | Process temperature variation directly affects yield. The coil needs a fast response and a stable leaving condition. |
| Continuous reliability | A line stop is expensive. The heat exchanger must run continuously with a low failure rate. |
| Compact envelope | Space inside the tool is limited. The coil has to fit the machine, not the other way round. |
| Equipment iteration | PV technology changes quickly. The heat exchanger has to change with the tool. |
Our approach
We join while the customer's new equipment is still in development, from requirements and thermal selection through prototype build and validation, then into series supply. That lets the heat exchanger follow the machine structure and control strategy instead of being reverse-engineered from a frozen drawing.
- Casing, connections and mounting built to the internal space and duct layout
- Fin spacing and row depth set by cleanliness and condensation risk
- Prototype testing and commissioning support before series release
- Process and inspection consistency maintained across production batches
Design highlights
- Geometry and interfaces follow the available space inside the host tool
- Fin spacing and row depth balance temperature control against air-side pressure drop
- Stainless steel construction available for cleanroom surface and weld requirements
- Service-friendly layout for continuous line operation
Project status
The heat exchanger design, prototype build and performance validation are complete. The unit is now in stable series supply for cell production equipment.
Typical PV cell process steps and heat exchanger duty
| Process | Heat exchanger duty | Typical construction |
|---|---|---|
| Texturing and cleaning | Process liquid temperature control and cooling | Fin coil / cold plate, corrosion-resistant material |
| Diffusion | Equipment and process gas cooling | Fin coil, process gas cooler |
| PECVD / PVD | Chamber and auxiliary equipment temperature control | Fin coil, stainless steel optional |
| Screen printing and sintering | Auxiliary cooling and heat removal | Fin coil, built to available space |
| Testing and sorting | Equipment heat removal | Compact cooler |
The table shows common process relationships. The actual duty is confirmed against the equipment conditions.
Selected projects
PV equipment
Cold plates and fin coils supplied to a solar cell equipment maker in East China, now in series production.
FAQ
Can you build to a non-standard size?
Yes. Send the available space inside the tool, the duct interface and the mounting method, and we design to those constraints.
Can you supply a prototype first?
Yes. Most of these projects start with a prototype and move to series supply after validation.
What lead time should we plan for?
Prototype and series lead times differ with specification, quantity and material. State your schedule in the enquiry.