Extruded Finned Tubes for Air-Cooled Condensers (ASTM A192 + Aluminum 1060)
Extruded Finned Tubes for Air-Cooled Condensers are high-efficiency heat transfer components designed for demanding cooling applications where reliable thermal performance, corrosion resistance, and long service life are required. Manufactured with a high-quality ASTM A192 carbon steel base tube and Aluminum 1060 outer fin material, these tubes provide excellent heat exchange capability for air-cooled condensers (ACC), power plant cooling systems, petrochemical facilities, refinery units, and industrial heat recovery equipment.
The extrusion manufacturing process forms an integral aluminum fin structure around the steel tube, creating a strong mechanical bond between the fin and tube. Compared with traditional wrapped or welded fin tubes, extruded finned tubes offer improved contact stability, enhanced corrosion protection, and superior resistance to vibration and thermal cycling.
The combination of ASTM A192 carbon steel tubes and Aluminum 1060 fins provides an optimized balance of mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and economical operation, making them widely used in large-scale air-cooled heat exchanger systems.
The aluminum fin is mechanically extruded onto the outer surface of the steel tube, ensuring:
- High fin-to-tube contact pressure
- Reduced thermal contact resistance
- Long-term heat transfer efficiency
- Excellent resistance to vibration and thermal expansion
During extrusion, aluminum forms a continuous protective layer around the tube surface, helping protect the carbon steel tube from atmospheric corrosion and improving service reliability in outdoor installations.
Aluminum 1060 provides excellent thermal conductivity, allowing efficient heat dissipation in air-cooled condensers while maintaining lightweight construction.
Extruded finned tubes are commonly applied in:
- Power generation plants
- Oil & gas processing facilities
- Refineries
- Petrochemical plants
- Natural gas compression stations
- Large industrial cooling systems
Extruded finned tubes are widely used in ACC systems for:
- Steam condensation in thermal power plants
- Waste heat recovery systems
- Industrial process cooling
- Combined cycle power plants
Suitable for:
- Shell-and-tube heat exchangers
- Condenser bundles
- Cooling modules
- Process air coolers
Common applications include:
- Turbine exhaust steam condensers
- Refinery cooling systems
- Chemical process condensers
- Gas compression cooling units
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Extruded Finned Tubes |
| Application | Air-Cooled Condensers / Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers |
| Base Tube Material | ASTM A192 Carbon Steel |
| Fin Material | Aluminum 1060 |
| Manufacturing Method | Aluminum extrusion forming |
| Tube Type | Seamless carbon steel tube |
| Fin Type | Integral extruded aluminum fin |
| Surface Condition | Mill finish / customized treatment |
| Standard Length | 6,000 mm / 12,000 mm (custom lengths available) |
The following dimensions are commonly produced for air-cooled condenser applications:
| Parameter | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Outside Diameter | 19.05 mm – 38.10 mm |
| Wall Thickness | 1.65 mm – 3.50 mm |
| Tube Length | 3,000 mm – 15,000 mm |
Common sizes include:
- 25.4 × 2.11 mm
- 31.75 × 2.11 mm
- 38.1 × 2.77 mm
| Parameter | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Fin Outside Diameter | 40 mm – 80 mm |
| Fin Height | 8 mm – 22 mm |
| Fin Thickness | 0.3 mm – 0.6 mm |
| Fin Density | 394 – 630 fins/meter |
(Custom dimensions can be manufactured according to customer drawings and thermal design requirements.)
ASTM A192 is a seamless carbon steel boiler and heat exchanger tube specification widely used for high-temperature and pressure heat transfer applications.
| Element | Maximum / Requirement |
|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | ≤0.06–0.18% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.27–0.63% |
| Phosphorus (P) | ≤0.035% |
| Sulfur (S) | ≤0.035% |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤0.25% |
| Property | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | ≥325 MPa |
| Yield Strength | ≥180 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥35% |
Aluminum 1060 is a commercially pure aluminum alloy with excellent thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.
| Element | Content |
|---|---|
| Aluminum (Al) | ≥99.60% |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤0.25% |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤0.35% |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤0.05% |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤0.03% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | ≤0.03% |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤0.05% |
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 75–135 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 20–95 MPa |
| Elongation | 20–45% |
| Thermal Conductivity | Approx. 230 W/m·K |
The production process includes:
- ASTM A192 seamless tube preparation
- Surface cleaning
- Dimensional inspection
- Aluminum extrusion forming
- Aluminum sleeve installation
- Cold extrusion process
- Formation of integral fins
- Fin forming and calibration
- Fin height control
- Fin pitch adjustment
- Surface finishing
- Final inspection
- Dimensional verification
- Pressure testing
- Performance quality control
To ensure reliable operation in air-cooled condenser systems, extruded finned tubes undergo strict quality inspections.
- Optical emission spectroscopy (OES)
- Verification according to ASTM A192 requirements
- Outside diameter measurement
- Wall thickness inspection
- Length verification
- Straightness inspection
Includes:
- Tensile test
- Yield strength verification
- Elongation test
- Hardness testing
Common methods:
- Eddy current testing
- Ultrasonic testing
- Hydrostatic pressure testing
Checked parameters include:
- Fin height
- Fin thickness
- Fin pitch
- Fin diameter
- Fin surface condition
Performed to verify:
- Tube-fin mechanical bonding strength
- Contact reliability
- Resistance against thermal expansion cycles
Hydrostatic or pneumatic testing may be conducted according to customer specifications and project requirements.
- High thermal efficiency for air-cooled condenser applications
- Strong mechanical bond between tube and fin
- Excellent aluminum corrosion resistance
- Lightweight heat exchanger construction
- Long operating life under outdoor conditions
- Suitable for high-volume industrial cooling systems
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