en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 24th, UK-based Econotherm has announced the award of a contract to supply heat pipe air preheaters for a major refinery in Thailand. The 6.6 MW heat pipe air preheater unit is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with its proprietary heat pipe modules to be manufactured at Econotherm's facility in Bridgend, Wales. The engineering scope has commenced, marking the company's official entry into the Asian refinery market.

This project represents Econotherm's 8th commercial reference in the refinery service sector. Prior to this, the company secured contracts for three heat pipe air preheaters in 2025 for a refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Heat pipe heat exchangers are gaining recognition in the refining industry for their effectiveness in recovering energy while simultaneously reducing operational risks and minimizing downtime.

The design of heat pipe exchangers incorporates redundancy, helping to avoid the single points of failure common in traditional shell-and-tube or finned-tube exchangers, and mitigating the risk of acid gas condensation. Warren Chung, Global Product Director at Econotherm, stated, "In the context of fluctuating energy prices, it is a prudent move for refiners to invest in energy efficiency to enhance their operations. Choosing the right technology ensures long-term, stable heat recovery benefits."