Pillowplate connections

There are various possibilities to make the connections to the pillowplate heat exchanger. The connections depend on the plate type and needed flow and before or after the inflation.

Single embossed:

Connection on laser welding spot, big flow rate through pillowplate.

By drilling a hole around the laser welded spot, Ø16 – 25 mm this spot can be removed. With an easy to make tool or start with a screw driver, you can lift and bend the pillowplate up and put in a tube connection insert.

pillowplate tube connection

Pillowplate tube connection insert

Connection between laser welding spots, small flow rate through pillowplate.

By drilling a hole with a hole saw between the spots, you create a place to make the tube connection. Disadvantage of this connection is that mechanical force or vibrations of the tube will be passed through to the pillowplate.

Connection at plate border (small flow)

For flat plates the connection can be made at the border to have a connection in line with the plate and create a less thick flat pillowplate thickness.

Double embossed:

Two main types are used in double embossed pillowplate piping and building a pillowplate register.

A) header with pipes towards each plate

Tube connections for pillowplate are used to have in- and output for a pillowplate and controlled flow through the separated plates.

Normally the bigger tubes 12- 30 mm are pressed oval to have a better shape to TIG weld the connection to the pillowplate.

Small pipes 4 – 12 mm can be welded by TIG to the pillowplate. Make a round hole in the pillowplate, first weld around the hole in the pillowplate (better against leakage), put the pipe into the pillowplate hole and weld the pipe to the pillowplate.

B) Header direct on the pillowplates

By grinding, laser cutting or water jet cutting the header opening is made in the pillowplate.

The header is made of 2 parts, one to weld the pillowplates into and the other part to close the header.

Also take special notice here to first weld the gap in the pillowplate and then weld it into the header part.

pillowplate register header cutting

pillow plate header