Low Fin Tube

Low Fin Tube

Seamless Low Finned Tubing For Compact Heat Exchangers

Low fin tubes enhance heat transfer in compact heat exchangers with seamless, low-height fins.

Low Fin Tube

Seamless Low Finned Tubing For Compact Heat Exchangers

Low fin tubes enhance heat transfer in compact heat exchangers with seamless, low-height fins. offering superior corrosion resistance, they are ideal for petrochemical, refrigeration, and power generation systems.

Low Fin Tubes
Low finned threaded tube
Threaded tube

Low Fin Tubes, also referred to as low finned tubes, are seamless heat exchanger fins designed to optimize thermal transfer by increasing the external surface area through low-height fins formed directly from the base tube material. These thermal transfer tubes are manufactured using cold rolling or extrusion processes, ensuring a robust, integral structure without welds or joints. Conforming to standards such as ASTM A179, A213, ASTM B359, and ASME SB338, low fin tubes are widely used in petrochemical, refrigeration, power generation, and chemical processing industries, offering excellent corrosion resistance and boiler pipeline protection in demanding environments.

The production process involves rolling or extruding fins from the base tube, creating low fins with heights ranging from 0.3mm to 1.5mm and fin pitches of 19 to 43 fins per inch (FPI). Base tube outer diameters typically range from 12.7mm to 25.4mm, with customizable lengths up to 25 meters. Materials include carbon steel (A179, A192), stainless steel (TP304, TP316), copper alloys (C12200, C70600), and titanium (Gr2, Gr12), with optional surface treatments like galvanization, 3LPE, or epoxy coatings to enhance corrosion resistance. The seamless design eliminates gaps, ensuring high durability and resistance to thermal cycling and vibration in air cooled exchangers and shell-and-tube heat exchangers.

Low Fin Tubes undergo stringent testing, including hydrostatic, eddy current, tensile, and flattening tests, to comply with ASTM A498, A1012, and TEMA standards. Their low-fin geometry increases the external surface area by 2.5 to 3 times compared to plain tubes, significantly improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining low pressure drop. These tubes are ideal for applications where shell-side heat transfer is critical, such as condensers, evaporators, and oil coolers, with operating temperatures up to 260°C and pressures up to 10 MPa. The smooth fin surfaces reduce fouling, making them suitable for handling viscous fluids or gases with particulates in industries like refrigeration and petrochemical processing.

Compared to high-fin or welded fin tubes, low finned tubes offer a compact and cost-effective solution, reducing exchanger size and material costs without compromising performance. Their seamless construction ensures consistent heat transfer under cyclic thermal loads, making them ideal for retrofitting existing systems or designing compact heat exchangers. In applications like air conditioning, waste heat recovery, and boiler economizers, low fin tubes provide reliable performance in corrosive environments, such as seawater or acidic media, due to their robust material options and protective coatings.

Addressing challenges like pipeline corrosion, thermal inefficiency, and space constraints, low fin tubes deliver a durable and efficient solution for thermal transfer tubes. Their ability to enhance heat transfer while minimizing weight and footprint makes them a preferred choice for engineers seeking high-performance solutions in demanding industrial applications. With superior boiler pipeline protection, these tubes ensure long-term reliability and energy efficiency in petrochemical, refrigeration, and power generation systems.

Main Features

Low Finned Tube for Heat Exchangers

High-efficiency extruded tubes with integral fins for superior heat transfer and compact equipment design.

Integral Design

Tube and fins formed from a single piece, ensuring durability and strong bonding.

Enhanced Heat Transfer

Low-profile fins increase surface area and improve thermal efficiency.

Material Flexibility

Available in copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, and custom alloys.

High Efficiency

Compact fin structure enables efficient heat exchange in smaller equipment sizes.

Applications

Heat Exchangers: Shell-and-tube, condensers, evaporators.

HVAC & Refrigeration: Air conditioning and cooling systems.

Chemical Processing: Petrochemical and chemical industries.

Power Generation: Boilers, condensers, and energy systems.

Enhanced Evaporation Tube
Low fin dimension capability
Description Size Dimension
Tube OD Min. 12.7 mm / Max. 31.75 mm (corrected decimal separator)
Tube thickness (plain section) Min. 1.245 mm / Max. 3.404 mm (corrected decimal separator)
Fin pitch 19, 26, 27, 28, 30, 36 fins per inch
Fin height Max. 1.40 mm (corrected decimal separator)
Tube length Max. 25000 mm

A Low Fin Tube is formed by passing a tube through a set of rollers that form the fins from the parent material of the tube by making it flow in the desired way.

Low Finned Tube material and application
No. Standards Material Application
1 ASTM A498 Carbon & Carbon alloy Heat exchanger for Oil refinery and Petrochemical plants
2 ASTM A1012 Stainless & Duplex alloy Condenser and Heat exchanger for Petrochemical & Power plants
3 ASTM B359 / ASME SB359 Copper & Copper alloy Heat exchanger for Petrochemical plants, Condenser & Evaporator for Power plants
4 ASTM B891 Titanium & Titanium alloy Condenser and Heat exchanger for Steam & Nuclear power plants
Fin tube material

Material

We offer you a broad portfolio of materials and can expand our offerings at any time to meet your specific needs regarding thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, or corrosion resistance.

For Aluminum L-Foot finned tubes, the fin material is aluminum, either 1100-0. The tube material is generally carbon steel, stainless steel, or brass; however the tube can be of any material.

For Welded Helical Solid and Welded Helical Serrated finned tubes, the fin and tube materials can be any combination that can be welded together using HIGH FREQUENCY WELDING process.

The materials chosen for a given application are a function of service temperature, corrosive environment, and/or erosive environment. Common tube materials used for our welded product lines include: carbon steel, carbon moly, chrome moly, stainless steel, Inconel, and Incoloy. Common fin materials include: carbon steel; stainless steels of types 304, 310, 316, 321, 409, and 410; Nickel 200, and Inconel.

Carbon steel fins are available on carbon, stainless steel, or copper tube. Please call for a specific size if not listed

We offer you a broad portfolio of materials and can expand our offering at any time to meet your specific needs regarding thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, or corrosion resistance.

  • Base tube: Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Copper, Cupro Nickel, Aluminium, Alloy Steel
  • Fin: Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Copper, Aluminium
  • Rings: Carbon steel, Aluminium, Hot dip galvanizing
Tube Materials and Corresponding Grades
Material Grade
Carbon Steel Tubes A179, A192, SA210 Gr A1/C, A106 Gr B, A333 Gr3/Gr6/Gr8, A334 Gr3/Gr6/Gr8, 09CrCuSb, DIN 17175 St35.8/St45.8, EN 10216 P195/P235/P265, GB/T3087 Gr10/Gr20, GB/T5310 20G/20MnG
Alloy Steel Tubes A209 T1/T1a, A213 T2/T5/T9/T11/T12/T22/T91, A335 P2/P5/P9/P11/P12/P22/P91, EN 10216-2 13CrMo4-5/10CrMo9-10/15NiCuMoNb5-6-4
Stainless Steel Tubes TP304/304L, TP316/TP316L, TP310/310S, TP347/TP347H
Copper Tubes UNS12200/UNS14200/UNS70600, CuNi70/30, CuNi 90/10
Titanium Tubes B338 Gr 2

Classification of Finned Tubes

Finned tubes are available in many types and configurations. Below is a detailed classification based on fabrication process, fin geometry, material, and applications.

  • Rolling forming finned tubes (Extruded fin tubes)
  • Welded finned tubes (High-frequency welded, Submerged arc welded)
  • Roll forming finned tubes
  • Set forming finned tubes
  • Casting finned tubes
  • Tension wound finned tubes
  • Inserted finned tubes

  • Square fin tube
  • Round fin tube
  • Spiral fin tube
  • Vertical fin tube (Longitudinal finned tube)
  • Corrugated fin tube
  • Serrated spiral fin tube (Helical serrated)
  • Needle finned tube
  • Plate-fin tube
  • Inner finned tube

  • Single-metal finned tubes: Copper, Aluminum, Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Cast iron/steel
  • Bi-metal composite finned tubes: Base tube with dissimilar fin material

  • Air conditioning finned tubes
  • Air-cooled heat exchanger finned tubes
  • Boiler finned tubes (economizer, water wall, air preheater)
  • Industrial waste heat recovery finned tubes
  • Special-purpose finned tubes
Material certificates with full testing can be provided in compliance with EN10204 3.1 standard.
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