ASME SA249 TP304 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins For Air-Cooled Condensers

ASME SA249 TP304 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins For Air-Cooled Condensers

An ASME SA249 TP304 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins is a high-performance, durable, and efficient heat exchanger component engineered for applications requiring reliable heat transfer from a stainless steel-contained fluid to a gaseous medium. Its primary purpose is to efficiently transfer heat between the fluid inside the tube and the gas (like air or flue gas) outside the tube.

Component Breakdown

1. Base Tube: ASME SA249 TP304 Seamless Tubes

(1). Chemical Composition (Heat Analysis - % by Weight)

The composition is for the weld wire and the base metal, ensuring the final welded tube meets these specifications.

(2). Mechanical Properties (for Finished Welded & Annealed Tube)

These are the minimum required properties per the ASTM A249 standard.

This combination of good corrosion resistance (from Cr/Ni), moderate strength, and excellent ductility makes ASTM A249 TP304 an ideal choice for the core tube in the Extruded Finned Tube application.

2. Fin’s Type: Extruded

Key Advantages of Extruded Fins:

• Metallurgical Bond: The bond is extremely strong and permanent, with excellent heat transfer characteristics (low "contact resistance").
• Durability: Highly resistant to thermal cycling and vibration.
• Protection: The base of the fin is formed from a thick "root" of aluminum, which completely encases and protects the underlying steel tube from the external environment.

Fin’s Material: Al1100

Al 1100: This is a commercially pure aluminum (99.0% minimum aluminum). Its key properties are:

• Excellent Thermal Conductivity: (~222 W/m·K), which is far superior to stainless steel (~16 W/m·K). This is the main reason for using aluminum—it efficiently pulls heat from the tube and dissipates it into the gas stream.
• Good Corrosion Resistance: Forms a protective oxide layer. Suitable for many atmospheres but not for highly caustic or acidic environments.
• High Formability: Makes it ideal for the extrusion process.
• Lightweight: Reduces overall coil weight.

3. Key Advantages of This Specific Construction

• Efficiency: Maximizes heat transfer surface area (fins) using the most conductive common metal (Al).
• Cost-Effectiveness: Uses expensive stainless steel only where necessary (for pressure containment/corrosion) and uses lower-cost aluminum for the fins.
• Reliability: The extruded bond is robust and long-lasting.
• Compact Design: Allows for a high heat transfer rate in a relatively small footprint.

Primary Industries & Applications of ASME SA249 TP304 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins

1. Power Generation

• Air-Cooled Condensers (ACC): Used in power plants located in water-scarce areas. Steam from the turbine exhaust passes inside the tubes, and ambient air is blown over the aluminum fins to condense the steam back into water. The TP304 tube handles the steam/condensate, while Al fins maximize heat rejection to air.
• Feedwater Heaters: Heating boiler feedwater using steam extraction. The stainless interior handles high-pressure feedwater.
• Generator Air/Hydrogen Coolers: Cooling the gas (air or hydrogen) used to cool generators. The stainless tube ensures reliability with the cooling medium.

2. HVAC & Industrial Refrigeration

• Large Chillers & Heat Pumps: Used as the evaporator or condenser coils in large centrifugal or absorption chillers. Refrigerant (which can be corrosive or high-pressure) flows inside the TP304 tube. Water or glycol flows over the finned exterior. The aluminum fins greatly enhance the water-side heat transfer.
• Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) & Air Handlers: Recovering heat from exhaust air streams to preheat incoming fresh air.

3. Oil, Gas & Petrochemical

• Process Gas Coolers / Aftercoolers: Cooling compressed gases (air, nitrogen, hydrocarbons) after compression. The TP304 tube resists corrosion from any residual moisture or process contaminants in the gas. Aluminum fins efficiently dissipate heat to air or cooling water.
• Compressor Intercoolers: Cooling air between stages of compression to improve efficiency.
• Lube Oil & Seal Oil Coolers: Cooling critical lubrication oils. The stainless tube ensures no contamination of the oil.

4. Industrial & Manufacturing Processes

• Air Dryer Regenerative Coolers: In desiccant air dryers, cooling the reactivated hot, dry air.
• Hydraulic Oil Coolers: For cooling hydraulic fluid in large machinery (e.g., injection molding, presses).
• Combustion Air Preheaters: Heating air entering a boiler using hot flue gas (for clean, dry flue gas applications).
• Drying Ovens & Process Heaters: As the heating coil where steam or thermal oil inside heats air forced over the fins.