The heat-absorbing side of the refrigeration cycle
The refrigerant vaporizes inside the tube bundle, drawing heat from the surrounding water or glycol mixture; this cooled fluid is then distributed through the facility.
Product group · Heat Transfer Products
Shell-and-Tube Evaporators
The first main heat exchanger in the refrigeration cycle, drawing heat from the surroundings by vaporizing the refrigerant. It is the heart of chillers and industrial cooling plants, available in DX, flooded and dual-circuit types.
CapacityProject-specific
FluidRefrigerant + water/glycol
Shell materialSteel / copper tube
Design pressure10 / 16 / 25 bar
Counter-flow operation · refrigerant on the left, cooled fluid on the right
Why it matters
What does a shell-and-tube evaporator do?
This is the heat-absorbing side of the refrigeration cycle. Without an evaporator, a chiller or cooling plant can't cool water or air.
Designed to match the refrigerant
Different refrigerants such as R134a, R410A and ammonia call for different pressure classes and materials. A mismatch can lead to lost efficiency and a safety risk.
Directly determines chiller efficiency
The evaporator's heat transfer capacity and approach temperature directly affect the entire cooling plant's COP (efficiency).
Can provide redundancy and uninterrupted operation
With a dual-circuit design, one circuit can keep running while the other is under maintenance — preventing downtime on critical cooling lines.
Types
Sub-types of evaporators
All three draw heat by vaporizing the refrigerant; what sets them apart is how the fluid circulates and the number of circuits.
DX (direct-expansion) evaporator
The standard type for medium and large-capacity chiller systems, where the refrigerant vaporizes directly inside the tube.
- An economical and common solution
- Relatively low refrigerant charge
- Easy to control and maintain
Flooded evaporator
The tube bundle is fully submerged in liquid refrigerant, giving a higher heat transfer coefficient and a lower approach temperature.
- High thermal efficiency
- Requires a larger refrigerant charge
- Preferred in large-capacity central chillers
Dual-circuit evaporator
Has two refrigerant circuits that can run independently of each other; one stays in service while the other is under maintenance, keeping operation uninterrupted.
- Redundancy and uninterrupted operation
- Preferred on critical cooling lines
- Higher cost than a single-circuit type
Selection criteria
What data determines the right evaporator?
Capacity alone isn't enough. Once the six points below are clear, the choice narrows to a single model.
ParameterWhy it mattersWhat we need from you
Cooling capacity
The heat load to be removed; it directly determines the evaporator's size and tube bundle area.
kW
Refrigerant type
R134a, R410A, ammonia, etc.; each requires a different material and pressure class.
Refrigerant name
Evaporation temperature and pressure
Operating pressure determines the tube wall thickness and material class.
°C and bar
Cooled fluid and flow rate
Water, a glycol mixture or a process fluid; the flow rate and inlet–outlet temperatures determine capacity.
m³/h + °C
Circuit configuration
Whether a single circuit or a dual circuit for redundancy; determined by the tolerance for downtime.
Single / dual circuit
Connection and installation
Flanged, threaded or welded connection; clarified based on integration with the existing line and the installation space.
Connection type and size
For a quote, having the following is enough
It's fine if you don't have all of it. We'll fill in the gaps together with you.
Create a quote request- Cooling capacity (kW)
- Refrigerant type
- Evaporation temperature and pressure
- Cooled fluid and flow rate
- Whether a single or dual circuit is wanted
- Mechanical project or specification, if available
FAQ
Questions from the field
The questions we hear most often when quoting evaporators.
What is the difference between a DX evaporator and a flooded evaporator?
In a DX (direct-expansion) evaporator, the refrigerant vaporizes inside the tubes. In a flooded type, the tubes are fully submerged in liquid refrigerant; this gives a higher heat transfer coefficient but requires a larger refrigerant charge.
When is a dual-circuit evaporator preferred?
In applications where redundancy is needed, or the system must not stop entirely while one circuit is under maintenance, an evaporator with two independent refrigerant circuits is preferred.
How is evaporator capacity calculated?
The flow rate of the fluid to be cooled, its inlet-outlet temperatures, and the refrigerant's evaporation temperature are evaluated together. Your chiller manufacturer's or project specification's data form the basis for this calculation.
Why is the evaporator tube bundle stainless steel or copper?
If the fluid being cooled is water, copper tube is generally sufficient. For seawater or fluids containing aggressive chemicals, a stainless steel or titanium tube bundle is preferred.
Do you only serve Istanbul?
No. While our office is on Istanbul's Anatolian side (Ataşehir), we supply and ship across Istanbul's European side, the surrounding provinces and the Marmara region, and Turkey as a whole — covering your equipment end to end, from a single source.
Next step
Let's clarify what you need together
Share your fluid type, capacity and operating conditions, and let's work out the right evaporator, condenser or dry cooler together.
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