Lightweight microchannel and parallel flow aluminum heat exchangers for automotive AC, transport refrigeration, electric vehicles, and space-constrained HVAC applications.
RefriCore manufactures all-aluminum microchannel and parallel flow heat exchangers for applications where weight, compactness, and refrigerant charge minimization are critical design requirements.
Unlike traditional copper tube / aluminum fin coils, all-aluminum microchannel coils use extruded flat aluminum tubes with multiple small internal channels bonded to corrugated aluminum fins in a brazed assembly. The result is a coil that is 30–40% lighter, significantly more compact, and compatible with low-charge refrigerant system designs.
Our all-aluminum coils are widely used in automotive air conditioning, bus and coach AC systems, electric vehicle thermal management, transport refrigeration, and modern commercial HVAC outdoor units where the size and weight advantages of microchannel technology deliver meaningful system benefits.
We manufacture to your exact drawings and specifications — custom tube width, fin pitch, coil dimensions, header design, and connection arrangement — with ISO-certified quality management and 100% leak testing on every coil before shipment from our Hangzhou, China factory.
Lighter than equivalent copper tube / aluminum fin coils
Lower refrigerant charge vs round tube coil designs
Smaller footprint for same heat transfer capacity
All-aluminum construction — fully recyclable at end of life
The most common microchannel configuration — refrigerant flows in parallel through multiple flat tube channels from inlet header to outlet header. Used in automotive AC condensers, commercial outdoor units, and transport refrigeration condensers. Excellent heat rejection efficiency with minimal air-side pressure drop.
All-aluminum microchannel evaporator coils for automotive AC systems, electric vehicle cabin cooling, and space-constrained refrigeration applications where the low weight and compact envelope of microchannel technology are critical. Multi-pass circuit design for optimal refrigerant distribution.
| Parameter | All-Aluminum Microchannel | Copper Tube / Aluminum Fin |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | ✓ 30–40% lighter | Heavier |
| Compactness | ✓ More compact | Larger footprint |
| Refrigerant Charge | ✓ 30% less refrigerant | Higher charge volume |
| CO₂ / High Pressure | ✓ Excellent pressure resistance | Limited to moderate pressure |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good (aluminum alloy) | ✓ Better (Cu tube) |
| Repairability | Limited — brazing required | ✓ Easier to repair |
| Cost | Comparable | ✓ Slightly lower |
| Recyclability | ✓ Fully recyclable | Mixed materials |
| Custom Geometry | Good | ✓ More flexible |
| Best For | ✓ Automotive, EV, transport, weight-sensitive | General HVAC, refrigeration |
Parallel flow condensers and microchannel evaporators for passenger car, SUV, and light commercial vehicle air conditioning systems. The dominant technology in modern automotive HVAC.
Microchannel heat exchangers for EV battery cooling, cabin HVAC, and heat pump systems. Low weight and CO₂ compatibility make microchannel ideal for EV thermal management.
Lightweight microchannel condenser and evaporator coils for city bus, intercity coach, and school bus air conditioning systems where weight reduction improves fuel efficiency.
All-aluminum condensers and evaporators for refrigerated truck, van, and trailer refrigeration units requiring lightweight, compact coil designs.
Microchannel condensers for modern commercial VRF and packaged unit outdoor sections. Increasingly specified by major manufacturers for weight and efficiency advantages.
All-aluminum microchannel coils are compatible with CO₂ (R744) refrigerant operating at transcritical pressures where copper tube coils are unsuitable. Used in supermarket and industrial CO₂ systems.
Proven experience supplying all-aluminum microchannel coils to automotive, bus, and transport OEM manufacturers. Custom designs to client drawings with consistent production quality.
Any tube width, fin pitch, coil dimension, header design, and circuit configuration. We manufacture to your exact engineering drawings for both prototype and volume production.
Sample coils for design validation, followed by volume production supply. Competitive lead times for both prototype development and series production.
Direct factory pricing from Hangzhou without trading company markups. Significant cost advantage versus equivalent Japanese or European microchannel coil suppliers.
Every coil is helium leak tested and pressure tested before shipment. ISO-certified quality management system throughout production.
Proven export to automotive, transport, and HVAC clients in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Full export documentation support.
The terms are often used interchangeably. Parallel flow refers to the refrigerant flow arrangement where refrigerant flows in parallel through multiple flat tube channels between inlet and outlet headers. Microchannel refers to the flat tube construction with multiple small internal channels. Most all-aluminum coils use both flat tube (microchannel) construction and parallel flow refrigerant distribution.
Yes. All-aluminum microchannel coils are well-suited for CO₂ (R744) systems operating at transcritical pressures (up to 130 bar). The extruded flat tube construction provides excellent burst pressure resistance. Coil design must account for CO₂ operating pressures — please specify CO₂ refrigerant when requesting a quote so we can design appropriate wall thickness and tube geometry.
Yes. We regularly supply prototype and sample coils for design validation before committing to volume production tooling and orders. Sample lead times depend on design complexity. Contact us with your drawings for a sample quotation.
All-aluminum coils provide good corrosion resistance in most environments due to the natural oxide layer that forms on aluminum surfaces. For coastal or marine environments, a protective coating (typically an epoxy or polymer coating applied to the fin surface) is recommended. All-aluminum construction eliminates the galvanic corrosion that can occur between copper tubes and aluminum fins in standard coils, which is an advantage in some environments.
Send us your drawings or specifications and receive a competitive quote within 24 hours. Prototype and volume production available.