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A finned copper tube heat exchanger is an industrial heat exchange device that uses copper tubes as the base tube and adds fins to the outer surface of the tube. It achieves high-efficiency heat exchange through “finned enhanced heat transfer” and is widely used in chemical, power, and metallurgical industries.
I. Structure of a Finned Copper Tube Heat Exchanger
Base Tube: Utilizes copper tubes (taking advantage of copper’s high thermal conductivity, approximately 398 W/(m·K), far exceeding that of carbon steel and stainless steel), suitable for heat media such as steam, hot water, and thermal oil, balancing heat transfer efficiency and cost.
Finals: Typically aluminum fins (thermal conductivity approximately 237 W/(m·K), balancing thermal conductivity and lightweight), connected to the copper tube through tight mechanical fit, winding, welding, or high-frequency welding, increasing the heat exchange area by 3-8 times and balancing the difference in heat transfer capacity between the low gas-side heat transfer coefficient and the high liquid-side heat transfer coefficient. Fin Shape: Primarily spiral (for uniform heat exchange and low fluid resistance), common fin height is 8-15mm, thickness is 0.3-0.8mm, and spacing is 2-5mm.
II. Working Principle of Finned Copper Tube Heat Exchangers
The heat medium (such as steam or hot water) flows inside the copper tubes, while the air outside the tubes contacts the fins for heat exchange. The increased heat transfer area by the fins significantly improves the gas-side heat transfer rate, achieving the goal of “meeting high-load heat exchange in a small space.”
III. Application Scenarios of Finned Copper Tube Heat Exchangers:
Suitable for temperature control in industrial production (such as heat control in chemical reactions, cooling of power equipment, and factory heating), especially in scenarios where the “gas-side heat transfer coefficient is much lower than the liquid-side coefficient” (such as gas cooling and air heating). By balancing the heat transfer capacity on both sides through the fins, it becomes a core device for efficient heat exchange.
IV. Core Advantages of Finned Copper Tube Heat Exchangers:
High Heat Transfer Efficiency: Fins increase the heat exchange area, matching the gas-side heat transfer capacity with the liquid-side, resulting in an overall heat exchange efficiency increase of 3-8 times.
High Space Utilization: Achieves high-load heat exchange within limited space, adapting to the compact layout requirements of industrial scenarios.
Strong Applicability: Copper tubes are corrosion-resistant and have excellent thermal conductivity; the lightweight design of aluminum fins allows for compatibility with various heat transfer media such as steam, hot water, and thermal oil, covering multiple fields including chemical, power, and metallurgy.
V. Industrial-Grade Design Details (Taking “Industrial Finned Tube Radiator” as an Example)
Support Frame: Constructed from angle steel and channel steel, with a hot-dip galvanized anti-corrosion treatment (salt spray resistance exceeding 500 hours), suitable for humid and dusty industrial environments, while simultaneously bearing the weight of the finned tubes and thermal expansion and contraction stresses.
Connection Interface: Primarily flange connections (flat/butt weld flanges with asbestos, graphite, or PTFE gaskets), compatible with heat exchange systems operating at pressures from 0.6 to 6.4 MPa, ensuring no leakage of the heat transfer medium.
Airflow Guiding Components: Some designs are equipped with airflow deflectors/baffles to optimize airflow paths, reduce dead zones, and further improve heat exchange efficiency (especially in forced convection scenarios, such as when used with a fan).
Finned copper tube heat exchangers, through the combination of copper tubes and aluminum fins, balance heat transfer efficiency, cost, and applicability, representing a typical solution for “balancing heat transfer capacity and improving heat exchange efficiency” in the industrial heat exchange field.
