Heat Exchange Tubes are seamless steel tubes designed for efficient heat transfer in heat exchangers, offering exceptional corrosion resistance and durability. Conforming to standards like ASTM A179, ASTM A213, and EN 10216-2, these tubes are ideal for power plant heat exchangers, petrochemical heat transfer, and HVAC systems. Their seamless construction ensures reliable performance under high-pressure conditions up to 25 MPa and temperatures up to 600°C.

Manufactured through cold-drawing or hot-rolling processes, Seamless Heat Exchanger Tubes are available in outer diameters from 6.35 mm to 101.6 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 7.0 mm. Standard lengths (6m, 12m) or customized lengths (up to 24m) meet diverse project requirements. Heat treatments such as annealing or normalizing enhance mechanical properties, ensuring resistance to pipeline wear and thermal fatigue. The seamless design eliminates weld imperfections, critical for maintaining heat transfer efficiency.

The chemical composition of heat exchange tubes typically includes carbon (0.06–0.18%), manganese (0.27–0.63%), phosphorus (≤0.035%), sulfur (≤0.035%), and silicon (0.10–0.35%), with grades like ASTM A179 or A213 T11 offering excellent corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity. Rigorous testing, including tensile, hardness, flattening, flaring, and hydrostatic tests, ensures compliance with industry standards. Surface treatments like phosphating, passivation, or external coatings (e.g., 3LPE) protect against corrosion, while U-bend or straight configurations facilitate installation in heat exchanger assemblies.

Heat Exchange Tubes are essential for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers, and evaporators in power plants, refineries, and HVAC systems. Compared to welded tubes, seamless heat exchange tubes offer superior thermal conductivity and pressure resistance, making them suitable for transferring heat in corrosive environments like cooling water or chemical fluids. Their ability to resist scaling, oxidation, and thermal stress ensures reliable performance in demanding applications.

These tubes address challenges like heat transfer efficiency, corrosion, and mechanical stress in heat exchanger systems. Their seamless construction, adherence to stringent standards, and robust material properties make them a dependable choice for engineers seeking durable seamless heat exchanger tubes solutions, ensuring safety, efficiency, and prolonged service life in heat transfer applications.

Heat Exchanger Tubes bundle

Exchanger & condensers

Types of

Heat exchanger tubes

The heat exchange tube is one of the elements of the heat exchanger, which is placed in the cylinder and used for heat exchange between the two media.

Has high thermal conductivity and good isothermal properties. It is a device that can quickly transfer heat energy from one point to another with almost no heat loss, so it is called a heat transfer superconductor, and its thermal conductivity is thousands of times that of copper.

ASTM A556 Superheater Steel Tube Heat Exchanger

SUNNY STEEL

Why Alloy Steel Heat Exchange Tubes?

Alloy steel pipes, made from high-quality carbon steel, alloy structural steel, and stainless heat-resisting steel, offer superior performance where carbon steel tubes are limited.

Containing elements like nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium, these tubes provide enhanced corrosion resistance, high-temperature tolerance (up to 600°C), and strength for demanding applications. Available as seamless or welded tubes (e.g., ASTM A335 Gr P1, P5, P9, P11 for pipes; ASTM A234 WP5, WP9, WP11 for fittings), they are 100% recyclable, environmentally friendly, and energy-saving, aligning with national strategies to expand high-pressure alloy pipe applications. Their lightweight design, economic advantages, and ability to handle diverse fluids make them a preferred choice for heat exchanger systems in chemical, petrochemical, and power generation industries.

Heat Exchange Tubes Standard Specifications

Chemical Composition of Heat Exchange Tubes (ASTM A179, A213 T11, EN 10216-2 P235GH)
Grade	C (%)	Si (%)	Mn (%)	P (% max)	S (% max)
ASTM A179	0.06–0.18	-	0.27–0.63	0.035	0.035
ASTM A213 T11	0.05–0.15	0.50–1.00	0.30–0.60	0.025	0.025
EN 10216-2 P235GH	0.16 max	0.35 max	1.20 max	0.025	0.020

Material: Commonly used materials are carbon steel, low alloy steel, stainless steel, copper, copper-nickel alloy, aluminum alloy, titanium, etc. In addition, there are some non-metallic materials, such as graphite, ceramics, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. In the design, appropriate materials should be selected according to the working pressure, temperature and corrosiveness of the medium.

Mechanical Properties of Heat Exchange Tubes (ASTM A179, A213 T11, EN 10216-2 P235GH)
Grade	Tensile Strength (MPa min)	Yield Strength (MPa min)	Elongation (% min)
ASTM A179	325	180	35
ASTM A213 T11	415	205	30
EN 10216-2 P235GH	360–500	235	25

Comparison of Heat Exchange Tubes with Fluid Tubes and Superheater Tubes
Feature	Heat Exchange Tubes	Fluid Tubes	Superheater Tubes
Material Type	Carbon/Low-Alloy Steel	Carbon Steel	Carbon/Alloy Steel
Temperature Range	Up to 600°C	-40°C to 450°C	Up to 500°C
Tensile Strength (MPa)	325–500	360–500	325–480
Yield Strength (MPa)	180–235	235–240	180–280
Corrosion Resistance	High (with coatings)	Moderate (with coatings)	Moderate (with coatings)
Pressure Resistance	High (up to 25 MPa)	High (up to 30 MPa)	Moderate (up to 20 MPa)
Cost	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Applications	Heat exchangers, condensers	Fluid transport (oil, gas)	Superheaters, feedwater heaters
Key Advantage	High thermal conductivity	High-pressure fluid reliability	Thermal conductivity in boilers
Manufacturing Process	Seamless, heat-treated	Seamless, heat-treated	Seamless, cold-drawn

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Standards and Specifications

• Heat exchange tubes specifications
• ASTM A179 heat exchanger tubes standards
• ASTM A213 heat exchange tubes requirements
• Seamless heat exchanger tubes certification

Applications

• Heat exchange tubes for power plants
• Seamless heat exchanger tubes for petrochemicals
• Heat exchange tubes for HVAC systems
• Heat exchange tubes for waste heat recovery

Material and Grades

• ASTM A179 heat exchange tubes material
• ASTM A213 T11 heat exchanger tubes
• Heat exchange tubes chemical composition
• Heat exchange tubes mechanical properties

Manufacturing and Testing

• Heat exchange tubes manufacturing process
• Seamless heat exchanger tubes quality testing
• Heat exchange tubes heat treatment
• Heat exchange tubes nondestructive testing

Procurement and Suppliers

• Heat exchange tubes supplier
• Seamless heat exchanger tubes distributors
• Heat exchange tubes price
• Heat exchange tubes global suppliers

Dimensions and Customization

• Heat exchange tubes dimensions guide
• Seamless heat exchanger tubes tolerances
• Heat exchange tubes custom sizes
• Heat exchange tubes length options

Note: Heat exchange tubes are designed for efficient heat transfer in demanding applications. For detailed specifications, refer to ASTM A179, A213, EN 10216-2, or contact a certified supplier.

Heat exchange tubes are seamless steel tubes used in heat exchangers for efficient heat transfer in high-pressure and high-temperature systems.

Carbon or low-alloy steel (e.g., ASTM A179, A213 T11, EN 10216-2 P235GH), optimized for thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. Alloy steel tubes may include nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium for enhanced properties.

- ASTM A179: C 0.06–0.18%, Mn 0.27–0.63%, P ≤0.035%, S ≤0.035%
- ASTM A213 T11: C 0.05–0.15%, Si 0.50–1.00%, Mn 0.30–0.60%, P ≤0.025%, S ≤0.025%, Cr 1.00–1.50%, Mo 0.44–0.65%
- EN 10216-2 P235GH: C ≤0.16%, Si ≤0.35%, Mn ≤1.20%, P ≤0.025%, S ≤0.020%

- ASTM A179: Tensile ≥325 MPa, Yield ≥180 MPa, Elongation ≥35%
- ASTM A213 T11: Tensile ≥415 MPa, Yield ≥205 MPa, Elongation ≥30%
- EN 10216-2 P235GH: Tensile 360–500 MPa, Yield ≥235 MPa, Elongation ≥25%

OD: 6.35–101.6 mm, WT: 0.5–7.0 mm, Length: Up to 24 m. Tolerances: OD ±0.5%, WT ±10%.

Cold-drawing or hot-rolling, with annealing or normalizing for enhanced properties.

Tensile, hardness, flattening, flaring, hydrostatic, and nondestructive tests (ultrasonic or eddy current).

Used in power plant heat exchangers, petrochemical refineries, HVAC systems, chemical processing, high-pressure steam headers, and cryogenic applications.

Marked with grade, size, and manufacturer’s name. Packaged in bundles, crates, or with protective wrapping.

Equivalents include EN 10216-2 (e.g., P235GH), DIN 17175 (e.g., St35.8), and JIS G3461 (e.g., STB340).

The central moment (center-to-center distance) of heat exchange tubes is generally not less than 1.25 times the outer diameter (OD) of the tube to prevent elastic deformation zones from intersecting during expansion and to reduce welding stress between tube welds. For slot welding around tube holes on the tube sheet, the central moment should be at least 125% of the OD, with 132% or more preferred when conditions allow, and a minimum of 25 mm. For tubes with OD less than 25 mm, a clear distance of 6 mm between tubes is maintained to facilitate cleaning.

Corrosion in heat exchange tubes primarily occurs at pipe joints, with uniform corrosion being less significant. As heat exchange elements, tubes are kept thin to maintain heat transfer efficiency, resulting in a smaller corrosion allowance compared to the shell. Their design service life is shorter than the shell’s, but corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel can be used for severe conditions. Corroded tubes can be replaced during maintenance, allowing continued use until the next overhaul.

As pressure components, heat exchange tubes require high dimensional accuracy (outer diameter, wall thickness, length), good plasticity and toughness for expansion, flanging, and bending, excellent welding performance for thin-walled tubes, and low hardness (lower than the tube sheet). They must also withstand high test pressures to ensure reliability in heat exchanger systems.

In multi-tube processes, the number of tubes per pass should be as equal as possible, with a relative error within 10% and a maximum of 20%.
The relative error is calculated as:
(N_max - N_min) / N_CP, where N_CP is the average number of tubes per pass, and N_min and N_max are the minimum and maximum number of tubes per pass, respectively.

Heat exchange tubes are arranged in four standard patterns: equilateral triangle, corner equilateral triangle, square, and corner square. The arrangement depends on the fluid flow direction, which is perpendicular to the baffle notch. Converting between equilateral triangle and corner equilateral triangle requires a 90° rotation of the piping. For square and corner square arrangements, a 45° rotation converts between the two; a 90° rotation retains the same arrangement (square remains square, corner square remains corner square).

Industrial Applications

Heat Exchange Tubes are vital for efficient heat transfer in power generation, petrochemical, and HVAC systems, ensuring optimal performance and durability.

Power Plant Heat Exchangers

Transfers heat in condensers and feedwater heaters.

Petrochemical Refineries

Manages heat in chemical processing systems.

HVAC Systems

Facilitates heat transfer in heating and cooling units.

Chemical Processing Plants

Handles corrosive fluids in heat exchangers.

Marine Heat Exchangers

Supports cooling systems in marine applications.

Waste Heat Recovery Systems

Recovers heat in industrial processes.

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