Scan WhatsApp Whats App
0086-21-33780199 (service time:9:00-21:00)
Hot sales
Email: sales@sunnysteel.com
Tube Bundles for Air Cooler

Tube Bundles for Air Cooler

Efficient Heat Transfer

Tube bundles for air coolers offer efficient heat transfer and corrosion resistance for petrochemical, power, and oil & gas applications.

Tube Bundles for Air Coolers Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Tubes Finned Tube Bundles Corrosion Resistant Tube Bundles +2 More

Tube Bundles for Air Cooler

Efficient Heat Transfer

Tube bundles for air coolers offer efficient heat transfer and corrosion resistance for petrochemical, power, and oil & gas applications.

Tube Bundles for Air Coolers Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Tubes Finned Tube Bundles Corrosion Resistant Tube Bundles +2 More
Tube Bundles for Air Coolers
Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Tubes
Finned Tube Bundles
Corrosion Resistant Tube Bundles

Tube Bundles for Air Coolers are critical components in air-cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs), designed for efficient heat dissipation in industries such as petrochemical air coolers, power plants, and oil & gas. These bundles, often featuring seamless or finned tubes, offer superior corrosion resistance and thermal performance, conforming to standards like ASTM A179, ASTM A213, and ASME Section VIII. They are engineered to withstand high temperatures (up to 600°C) and pressures (up to 20 MPa).

Manufactured using cold-drawing or hot-rolling processes, Finned Tube Bundles typically include seamless tubes with outer diameters ranging from 15.88 mm to 50.8 mm and wall thicknesses from 1.65 mm to 4.5 mm. Fins, often made of aluminum or steel, enhance heat transfer by increasing surface area, with fin heights of 10–16 mm and densities of 8–12 fins per inch. Tube bundles are arranged in triangular or square patterns, with a central moment (center-to-center distance) of at least 1.25 times the tube OD to ensure structural integrity during expansion and welding. Lengths are customizable up to 12 meters to suit specific ACHE designs.

Materials like carbon steel (ASTM A179), low-alloy steel (ASTM A213 T11), or stainless steel are selected based on application requirements, offering excellent corrosion resistance to handle corrosive fluids or humid environments. Tubes undergo heat treatments (e.g., annealing) to optimize mechanical properties and are tested for tensile strength, hardness, and hydrostatic pressure. Surface treatments, such as galvanizing or epoxy coatings, further enhance durability. The bundles are designed for easy maintenance, with replaceable tubes to extend service life in harsh conditions.

Tube Bundles for Air Coolers are ideal for applications where water cooling is impractical, such as arid regions or water-scarce facilities. Compared to shell-and-tube exchangers, ACHEs with finned tube bundles are more compact, require less maintenance, and reduce environmental impact by eliminating water usage. They are commonly used in cooling process fluids, condensing vapors, or managing gas streams in refineries, LNG plants, and power generation facilities.

These tube bundles address challenges like heat dissipation, corrosion, and operational efficiency in air-cooled systems. Their robust design, compliance with stringent standards, and enhanced heat transfer capabilities make them a reliable choice for engineers seeking durable air-cooled heat exchanger tubes for demanding industrial applications.

Key Benefits

Enhanced Heat Transfer

Finned tubes maximize surface area for efficient cooling.

Corrosion Resistance

Coatings and alloy materials resist environmental degradation.

High Durability

Seamless tubes withstand pressures up to 20 MPa.

Low Maintenance

Replaceable tubes reduce downtime and costs.

Water-Free Operation

Eliminates water usage, ideal for arid regions.

Standards Compliance

Meets ASTM, ASME, and API standards for quality.

Comparison of Tube Bundles for Air Coolers with Shell-and-Tube Bundles and Superheater Tubes
Feature Tube Bundles for Air Coolers Shell-and-Tube Bundles Superheater Tubes
Material Type Carbon/Low-Alloy/Stainless Steel Carbon/Alloy Steel Carbon/Alloy Steel
Temperature Range Up to 600°C Up to 600°C Up to 500°C
Tensile Strength (MPa) 325–515 325–500 325–480
Yield Strength (MPa) 180–205 180–235 180–280
Corrosion Resistance High (with coatings/fins) High (with coatings) Moderate (with coatings)
Pressure Resistance Up to 20 MPa Up to 25 MPa Up to 20 MPa
Cost Moderate High Moderate
Applications Air-cooled heat exchangers Shell-and-tube exchangers Superheaters, boilers
Key Advantage Water-free, enhanced heat transfer High-pressure fluid handling High-temperature steam reliability
Manufacturing Process Seamless, finned, heat-treated Seamless, heat-treated Seamless, cold-drawn

Tube Bundles for Air Cooler Standard Specifications

Chemical Composition of Tube Bundles for Air Cooler (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 Tube Bundles for Air Cooler (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

You Can Also Search Heat Exchange Tubes by

Explore seamless heat exchange tubes with targeted long-tail keywords, covering specifications, applications, manufacturing, procurement, and dimensions for heat exchanger systems.

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.

FAQ

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:
(Nmax - Nmin) / NCP, where NCP is the average number of tubes per pass, and Nmin and Nmax 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.

Related products

Ultra-long heat exchanger tubes
Ultra-long heat exchanger tubes

Ultra-long heat exchanger tubes are essential comp...