referring now to fig1 a perspective view of a heat transfer support surface assembly is shown in which several heat transfer elements 20 are arranged substantially in parallel heat transfer elements 20 could typically be made from an aluminum extrusion heat transfer elements 20 are interconnected on one end by a fluid supply header 2 and on the other end by a fluid return header 6 in the preferred embodiments headers 2 and 6 could be typically be made from an aluminum extrusion also a heated or cooled fluid enters at either opening 10 on supply header 2 and exits at either opening 14 on return header 6 the support surface top which is shown as substantially flat but other shapes could be employed is indicated by numeral 21 throughout several views the support surface top 21 is where food articles would typically be placed usually in pans moving now to fig2 a top plan view of the fluid flow of the present invention is shown wherein the internal passages are shown in dashed lines for simplicity numeral 5 and 18 identify passages in only one heat transfer element 20 connection but exist in all fluid enters header 2 at either port 10 and travels through passage 4 and entering passages 18 of heat transfer elements 20 via apertures 5 of header 2 fluid exits heat transfer elements 20 and enters passage 8 via apertures 5 of return header 6 finally the fluid exits at either port 14 of return header 6 the flow pattern between the heat transfer elements would be parallel and in the same direction alternatively by placing strategically located.