Heat Exchange Institute

What Heat Exchange Institute does

Heat Exchange Institute, Inc. (HEI) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1933 as part of the U.S. National Recovery Act program and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, where it is operated under contract by Thomas Associates, a trade association management firm. Its core function is the development, publication, and periodic reaffirmation of technical standards governing the design, sizing, selection, manufacture, and operation of heat exchange and vacuum apparatus equipment used in power generation, chemical processing, petrochemical, HVAC, and manufacturing applications. HEI organizes its work across seven technology-specific sections: Air Cooled Condensers, Steam Surface Condensers, Closed Feedwater Heaters, Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers, Plate Heat Exchangers, Vacuum Technology, and Deaerators, each of which develops standards through consensus-based technical committees composed of Full Member manufacturers and Associate Member tube and raw material suppliers. The product catalog consists of nine distinct published standards (Steam Surface Condensers 12th Ed., Steam Jet Vacuum Systems 7th Ed., Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers 5th Ed., Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers 1st Ed., Direct Contact Barometric & Low Level Condensers 9th Ed., Closed Feedwater Heaters 9th Ed., Air Cooled Condensers 2nd Ed., Tray Type Deaerators 11th Ed., and Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps 5th Ed.), three discount bundles priced $1,500-$1,700, and a free Tech Sheets library.

HEI generates revenue through two primary streams: recurring membership dues from Full Members (12 named manufacturers including Graham Corporation, Holtec International, Kelvion, BWXT D.C. Fabricators, Gardner Denver Nash, SPG Dry Cooling, and others) and Associate Members (tube manufacturers and raw material suppliers), and one-time PDF sales of standards documents at $450-$1,700 each. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via HEI's e-commerce website (heatexchange.org), with semi-annual spring and fall member meetings serving as the principal in-person engagement channel and LinkedIn providing top-of-funnel awareness. A quarterly Statistics Program collects orders-booked data from member companies by section, providing industry intelligence to participants. The organization has no software products, APIs, or AI-enabled features, and its intellectual property (including website content) is held by Thomas Associates.

Name

Heat Exchange Institute

Legal name

Heat Exchange Institute, Inc.

Website

https://heatexchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heat Exchange Institute (HEI) is a 1933-founded, Cleveland-based non-profit trade association that develops and publishes consensus-based technical standards for heat exchange and vacuum apparatus equipment used by industrial manufacturers and end users in power, chemical, and process industries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Technical Standards (Heat Exchange and Vacuum Apparatus)

NAICS

Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (33241), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC), Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF)

Keywords

• Heat exchange standards
• Vacuum apparatus standards
• Industrial equipment specifications
• Trade association standards
• Power plant equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Standards Publications Sales: HEI generates revenue through the sale of technical standards documents and publications. Standards are sold as PDF downloads through the website at various price points ($450-$1,700 depending on the document or bundle). Standards include steam surface condensers, shell & tube heat exchangers, deaerators, air cooled condensers, plate heat exchangers, vacuum systems, and closed feedwater heaters.
2. Membership Dues: The association collects membership dues from Full Members (manufacturers of heat exchange equipment) and Associate Members (component manufacturers and raw material suppliers). Members receive access to technical information, standards development participation, industry statistics, and website directory listings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HEI develops and publishes consensus-based technical standards and informational tech sheets for heat exchange and vacuum apparatus equipment, covering steam surface condensers, shell-and-tube heat exchangers, steam jet vacuum systems, deaerators, air cooled condensers, closed feedwater heaters, plate heat exchangers, and liquid ring vacuum pumps. Standards are sold as PDF downloads, and the organization operates as a member-funded trade association with semi-annual meetings for technical committee work.

Product overview

Heat Exchange Institute (HEI) is a non-profit trade association that develops and publishes technical standards and informational resources for the heat exchange and vacuum apparatus industry. The core product portfolio consists of 9 distinct published standards documents covering steam surface condensers, steam jet vacuum systems, shell & tube heat exchangers, gasketed plate heat exchangers, direct contact barometric condensers, closed feedwater heaters, air cooled condensers, tray type deaerators, and liquid ring vacuum pumps/compressors. These standards are available as individual PDF purchases or bundled at discounted prices. HEI also provides supplementary Tech Sheets—technical informational documents that elaborate on standards topics and address commonly misunderstood areas. HEI does not offer software products, APIs, or AI-enabled features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standards for Steam Surface Condensers – 12th Edition (PDF) The preeminent standard for proper sizing, selection, and specification of steam surface condensers used worldwide, covering design criteria, nomenclature, dimensions, testing, construction and performance. For industrial manufacturers, power plants, and procurement specifiers.
• Standards for Steam Jet Vacuum Systems – 7th Edition + Addendum (PDF) Standard developed by the Vacuum Technology Section covering steam jet ejectors, including corrections, updated information from referenced codes, and operational characteristics. For industrial vacuum equipment manufacturers and end users.
• Standards for Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers – 5th Edition (PDF) Standards covering nomenclature, dimensions, design, testing, construction and performance for shell and tube heat exchangers. For industrial manufacturers and specifiers in power, chemical, and refining industries.
• Standards for Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers – 1st Edition (PDF) Standard providing information on plate heat transfer technology, thermal and hydraulic heat exchange performance, mechanical design standards, assembly and fabrication, testing and preparation, and operational considerations. For plate heat exchanger manufacturers and users in power plants and HVAC.
• Standards for Direct Contact Barometric & Low Level Condensers – 9th Edition (PDF) Standard providing practical information on nomenclature, dimensions, construction and testing of direct contact barometric fabricated condensers. For industrial condenser manufacturers and end users.
• Standards for Closed Feedwater Heaters – 9th Edition (PDF) Standard developed by the Closed Feedwater Heater Section covering heater performance, design criteria, and specifications. For power plant and industrial feedwater heater manufacturers and specifiers.
• Standards for Air Cooled Condensers – 2nd Edition + Addendum (PDF) Standards covering nomenclature, dimensions, testing, and performance for air cooled condensers used in power plant applications, with addendum containing updated tube specifications. For power plant air cooled condenser manufacturers and specifiers.
• Standards & Typical Specifications for Tray Type Deaerators – 11th Edition (PDF) Standard developed by the HEI Deaerator Section incorporating design criteria and deaerator performance benchmarks, covering design, construction, and operation. For power plant, petrochemical, and refinery deaerator manufacturers and specifiers.
• Performance Standard for Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps & Compressors – 5th Edition (PDF) Standard providing test methods for factory testing of liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors, developed by the Vacuum Technology Section. For liquid ring vacuum pump and compressor manufacturers.
• HEI Standards Discount Bundle 1 (PDF) Discount bundle including Standards for Steam Jet Vacuum Systems 7th Ed., Standards for Steam Surface Condensers 12th Ed., Standards for Air Cooled Condensers 2nd Ed., and Performance Standards for Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps 5th Ed. Priced at $1,500.
• HEI Standards Discount Bundle 2 (PDF) Discount bundle including Standards for Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers 5th Ed., Standards for Gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers 1st Ed., Standards for Direct Contact Barometric and Low Level Condensers 9th Ed., Standards for Closed Feedwater Heaters 9th Ed., and Standards for Tray Type Deaerators 10th Ed. Priced at $1,700.
• HEI Standards Discount Bundle 3 (PDF) Discount bundle including Standards for Steam Jet Vacuum Systems 7th Ed., Standards for Tray Type Deaerators 11th Ed., Standards for Air Cooled Condensers 2nd Ed., and Performance Standards for Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps 5th Ed.
• Tech Sheets Collection Technical informational sheets elaborating on material addressed in standards or explaining commonly misunderstood topics, covering condensers, vacuum technology, closed feedwater heaters, shell & tube heat exchangers, deaerators, plate heat exchangers, and associate/tube manufacturer topics. Available for free download.

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record.

• American Exchanger ServicesOthersFull member of HEI Closed Feedwater Heater Section. Manufacturer of closed feedwater heaters. Located at 709 W Wisconsin St, Hartford, WI 53027.
• BWXT D.C. Fabricators, LLCOthersFull member of HEI Condenser Section. Manufacturer of steam surface condensers. Located at 801 W Front Street, Florence, NJ 08518.
• Croll Reynolds Company, Inc.OthersFull member of HEI Vacuum Technology Section. Manufacturer of vacuum apparatus. Located at Six Campus Drive, Parsippany, NJ 7056.
• Gardner Denver NashOthersFull member of HEI Vacuum Technology Section. Manufacturer of liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors. Located at 200 Simko Blvd, Charleroi, PA 15022.
• Graham CorporationOthersFull member of HEI Condenser Section. Manufacturer of steam surface condensers. Located at 20 Florence Avenue, Batavia, NY 14020.
• Holtec InternationalOthersFull member of HEI Air Cooled Condenser Section. Manufacturer of air cooled condensers. Located at 1 Holtec Blvd, Camden, NJ 08104.
• Kansas City Deaerator CompanyOthersFull member of HEI Deaerator Section. Manufacturer of deaerators. Located at 7387 West 162nd Street, Stilwell, KS 66085.
• Kelvion, Inc.OthersFull member of HEI Plate Heat Exchanger Section. Manufacturer of gasketed plate heat exchangers. Located at 5202 West Channel Road, Catoosa, OK 74015.
• Maarky Thermal SystemsOthersFull member of HEI Condenser Section. Manufacturer of steam surface condensers. Located at 1415 Route 70 East, Suite 604, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
• SPG Dry CoolingOthersFull member of HEI Air Cooled Condenser Section. Manufacturer of air cooled condensers. Located at 1200 US Route 22 East, Suite 1, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.
• Sterling Deaerator CompanyOthersFull member of HEI Deaerator Section. Manufacturer of deaerators. Located at 514 West Maple Street, Suite 205, Cumming, GA 30040.
• Thermal Engineering Int'l (USA) Inc.OthersFull member of HEI Condenser Section. Manufacturer of steam surface condensers. Located at 4 Centerpointe Drive, Suite 400, La Palma, CA 90623.
• Thomas AssociatesOthersTrade association management firm that operates HEI under its control. Principal place of business at 1300 Sumner Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute): Major trade association for HVACR equipment manufacturers that develops performance standards and certifies ratings. Peer in the sense of being a standards-setting body serving industrial thermal equipment manufacturers, though focused on HVACR rather than utility-scale heat exchange.
• ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers): Global society developing standards for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Comparable as a non-profit technical standards organization serving thermal-equipment-related industries with a much larger membership and global footprint.
• EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute): Non-profit R&D organization serving the electricity sector, including research on power plant heat exchange, condensers, and cooling systems. Comparable to HEI as a non-profit technical authority whose work is consumed by power plant operators and OEMs.
• PVRC (Pressure Vessel Research Council, now part of ASME ST-LLC): Research body historically focused on pressure vessel and heat exchanger design rules, now integrated with ASME. Comparable as a peer-oriented committee-driven standards/research organization for heat exchange equipment.
• ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers): The dominant US-based standards body for mechanical engineering, including boilers and pressure vessels (ASME BPVC). HEI standards often reference ASME codes, making it both a complementary peer and a potential competitor in the broader industrial standards landscape.
• API (American Petroleum Institute): Trade association that publishes widely used standards for the petrochemical and refining industries — many of HEI's end users (refineries, petrochemical plants) operate within API's standards ecosystem. Comparable as a non-profit consensus-based standards body.

Regional players

• GPA Midstream Association: Industry association for the midstream gas processing industry, which is a downstream user of heat exchange equipment. Peer in the sense of a non-profit that publishes technical standards used in hydrocarbon processing, where heat exchangers are critical components.
• CIBO (Council of Industrial Boiler Owners): Trade association representing industrial boiler owners and related equipment manufacturers. Peer in the sense of a non-profit serving industrial thermal-equipment stakeholders, though its primary focus is combustion systems rather than heat transfer equipment.

Direct peers

• TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association): The closest direct peer — an industry association that publishes the globally used TEMA standards for shell-and-tube heat exchanger design. HEI and TEMA operate in the same equipment category with overlapping, but distinct, standards.
• HTRI (Heat Transfer Research Institute): Research consortium of heat exchanger users, manufacturers, and engineering firms that produces heat transfer design methods and software. Highly comparable to HEI in target audience (heat exchanger manufacturers and end users) and services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heat-exchange-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heat Exchange Institute