R.W. Fernstrum Equipment Enhanced
OMEGA Laser Plate™
Laser-welded pillow plate (immersion plate) heat exchangers in stainless steel, duplex, nickel alloys or titanium — custom-built for cargo hold and tank heating, heat recovery and de-icing on ships and offshore units; supplied by R.W. Fernstrum with Omega Thermo Products.
Description
OMEGA Laser Plates™ — also called pillow plates or immersion plates — are custom heat-exchanger plates for closed-circuit heating and cooling. R.W. Fernstrum & Company is the marine dealer for Omega Thermo Products, inventor of laser-plate welding technology.
How they are made
Two metal sheets are joined by CNC laser welding a circular spot pattern; a perimeter seam creates the pressure boundary (fully autogenous — no filler metal). The plate is then hydraulically inflated to form channels for water, thermal oil, steam or refrigerant. Shapes, cut-outs, connections and weld patterns are made to order.
Advantages
- High turbulence and high overall heat-transfer coefficients
- Low internal volume — less heating/cooling fluid and smaller pumps
- Reduced deposits (algae, lime) and easy cleaning
- Thinner materials and lower welding cost than pipe coils or conventional jackets
- Simplified installation and maintenance compared with pipe-coil systems
- Pressures above 1,450 psi possible, depending on design temperature and thickness
Configurations
- Single embossed — one flat side (1:3 thickness ratio) for tank walls, decks, shells and structural surfaces
- Double embossed — inflated both sides for immersion plates, plate banks, clamp-on plates and heat-recovery banks
Materials
Austenitic stainless (304, 304L, 316, 316L, 317, 321, 904L, 254-SMO), duplex and super-duplex (2205, 2507, 2304, LDX-2101), nickel alloys (Nickel, Hastelloy, Inconel) and titanium; gauges from 22 ga up to 1/2" backing plate.
Marine applications
Cargo hold and cargo tank heating, suction heaters, heat recovery, FPSO process duties, superstructure and gangway de-icing, and thermal emulsion breaking for recovered oil — on ATBs, barges, tankers and supertankers, cruise ships, FPSOs, offshore rigs, freighters, fishing vessels, naval vessels and large yachts.
Certifications (Omega Thermo Products): ASME U-stamp, CRN, PED.
Specifications
| Type | Laser-welded pillow plate / immersion plate heat exchanger |
|---|---|
| Construction | CNC laser spot-welded, hydraulically inflated; autogenous welds |
| Embossing | Single embossed (flat side) or double embossed |
| Materials | 304/304L/316/316L/317/321/904L/254-SMO stainless, duplex 2205/2507/2304/LDX-2101, Nickel, Hastelloy, Inconel, titanium |
| Pressure rating | Above 1,450 psi possible (design dependent) |
| Media | Water, glycol, thermal oil, steam, refrigerants |
| Certifications | ASME U-stamp, CRN, PED |
| Manufacturer | Omega Thermo Products (Stratford, WI) |
| Marine dealer | R.W. Fernstrum & Company |
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