Heat exchanger product attributes

Heat exchangers span very different constructions under one category name: brazed plate units, gasketed plate-and-frame units, shell-and-tube, and coaxial designs. Each has its own set of meaningful attributes, and a supplier file often mixes them in one table. A catalog schema needs a common core plus construction-specific fields, so a gasket material or a TEMA designation is not forced onto a product where it cannot apply.

Most selection errors come from details that look minor. Pressure and temperature ratings are stated per side and are not interchangeable. Braze material decides whether the unit tolerates ammonia or certain water chemistries, and connection threads may be NPT or BSP on otherwise identical models sold in different regions.

Thermal performance depends on flow rates, fluids and temperatures, so a published capacity only describes one operating point. The record should carry that capacity together with its rating conditions, and keep pressure vessel registrations and certification program data as documented evidence linked to the source file rather than descriptive text.

The heat exchangers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	BPX-512-40
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	012345512407

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Heat Transfer Surface Area heat_transfer_surface_area	Number · ft²	Core	16.0
Plate Count / Tube Count plate_count_tube_count	Number	Core	40
Max Working Pressure, Per Side max_working_pressure_per_side	Text · psig	Core	Side 1: 650 / Side 2: 435
Design Temperature Range design_temperature_range	Text · °F	Core	-256 to 437
Nominal Capacity at Rating Conditions nominal_capacity_at_rating_conditions	Number · Btu/h	Buyer decision	175,000 (at stated flows and temperatures)

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Exchanger Type exchanger_type	Controlled list	Core	Brazed plate
Plate / Tube Material plate_tube_material	Controlled list	Core	316L stainless steel
Braze / Bond Material braze_bond_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Copper
Gasket Material (Gasketed Types) gasket_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	EPDM
Wall Construction wall_construction	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Single-wall
TEMA Type Designation (Shell-and-Tube) tema_type_designation	Controlled list	Buyer decision	BEM

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Connection Size & Type connection_size_type	Text · in	Core	1-1/4 in MNPT
Approved Refrigerants approved_refrigerants	Controlled list	Buyer decision	R-410A, R-454B, R-32

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
ASME Section VIII Div. 1 Certification asme_section_viii_div_1_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	ASME certification mark, U designator
Canadian Registration Number (CRN) canadian_registration_number_crn	Identifier	Channel / evidence	F12345.5C
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Sweden

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Approved refrigerants
• Rating conditions behind the published capacity
• Canadian Registration Number (CRN)
• Double-wall vented construction
• Gasket attachment method (clip-on vs glued)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing heat exchangers ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Can I run ammonia through this, or is it copper-brazed?
• What pressure is the refrigerant side rated for if I use it with R-410A?
• Is it double-wall vented so I can use it on potable water?
• Are the connections NPT or BSP, and will they match my existing piping?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ