Gooch Thermal Systems

Gooch Thermal Systems is a leading US designer and manufacturer of spiral heat exchangers.  Over the past 25 years, hundreds of our customers have relied on the product and application expertise of our engineers to find the right spiral heat exchanger solution to their heat transfer problems - often the most difficult ones.

Custom-made for your application.

From the initial thermal rating to mechanical design and fabrication, our spiral heat exchangers are engineered to meet the specific process requirements of our customers.

Spiral heat exchangers are adaptable to a braod range of liquid to liquid or vapor to liquid services.  As coolers, heaters, and heat recovery interchangers, our spirals increase thermal efficiency and minimize downtime in heavy fouling applications.  Spirals also excel as vacuum vapor condensers in applications that require extremely low pressure drops.

Engineering Experts.  Ready to Help.

Gooch Thermal engineers are problem solvers and we enjoy a heat transfer challenge.  We pride ourselves on being good listeners who take the time to understand the specific needs of our customers.

With every spiral heat exchanger design, we strive to provide our customers with comprehensive solutions that meet or exceed their process requirements and deliver optimal value in terms of overall capital costs and operating expenses.

Design Features & Benefits

The spiral plate heat exchanger is made by rolling two long metal plates around a center core to form two concentric spiral passages, one for each fluid. The plate edges are welded shut so that each fluid stays within its own passage and there is no flow bypassing or intermixing. Spacing within the passages is maintained by welded spacer studs although some designs do not require them.

Due to its inherent circular design and large surface area to volume ratio, the spiral heat exchanger offers unique advantages over other types of heat exchangers like the shell and tube.
Countercurrent flow

High Thermal Efficiency

Single and long curving flow passages with a uniform rectangular cross-section ensure superior flow distribution, intense turbulence, and high heat transfer coefficients (50-100% greater than shell & tubes).

Self-Cleaning Passages

The spiral's single-flow passages induce high shear rates that scrub away deposits as they form. This self-cleaning effect reduces fouling and makes spiral heat exchangers ideal for handling tough fluids such as process slurries, sludge, and media with suspended solids or fibers.

Countercurrent or Co-current

Spiral heat exchangers normally operate in true countercurrent flow for close approaches and temperature crosses. Occasionally a co-current flow design has major benefits, especially in cooling or heating fluids prone to gelation, burn-on, freezing or similar skin temperature related fouling.

Small Footprint & Easy Access

The spiral heat exchanger is compact and requires minimal space for installation and servicing. Removable covers provide easy access to interior heat transfer surfaces for field inspections, routine maintenance, or manual cleaning if required.

Spiral Heat Exchanger Applications
Gooch Thermal spiral heat exchangers are superior to conventional heat exchangers for difficult heat transfer services involving fouling process fluids and high solids slurries, whether present on one side or on both sides.

As column-mounted condensers, our spiral heat exchanger is an elegant solution for condensing of column overhead vapors under vacuum with practically nil pressure drop and compact footprint.

Single Phase Flow - Liquid to Liquid Heat Transfer
Ideal for handling fouling fluids, viscous media, slurries, sewage sludge, and other dirty process fluids and effluents with suspended solids or fibers

Product coolers & heaters
Heat recovery economizers
Feed to bottoms interchangers
Sludge digester heaters, coolers & pasteurizers
Two Phase Flow - Vapor to Liquid Heat Transfer
Ideal for condensing and cooling of mixed vapors with inert gases under vacuum or steam heating of slurries and other viscous media

Steam heaters & vapor condensers
Overhead reflux condensers
Vaporizers & column reboilers