ASME SB338 Gr.2 Extrudded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins for Air-Cooled Condenser

ASME SB338 Gr.2 Extrudded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins for Air-Cooled Condenser

ASME SB338 Gr.2 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins is a very specific type of heat exchanger tubing used in applications requiring high efficiency and corrosion resistance. It's a premium tube designed to solve heat transfer problems in environments where corrosion is a primary concern.

Let's break down the name "ASME SB338 Gr.2 Extruded Finned Tube with Al1100 Fins" into its components:

1. Base Tube: ASME SB338 GR.2 seamless tubes

The base tube (the inner core tube) is made of titanium, manufactured to meet the stringent quality, chemical composition, and mechanical property requirements of this ASME standard for heat exchanger service.

(1).Chemical Composition Requirements

Notes:

Other elements (each): ≤ 0.1%

Other elements (total): ≤ 0.4%

Grade 2 is commercially pure titanium (CP Ti)

(2). Mechanical Properties Requirements

For Seamless & Welded Tubes (Typical Minimum Values)

(3). Corrosion Resistance

Titanium Grade 2 is commercially pure titanium (unalloyed titanium). Due to its excellent combination of properties, it is the most common and widely used titanium grade.

2. Finned Tube Type: Extruded Type

Extruded fins (or solid fins): In this process, an aluminum fin (in this example, Al1100) is mechanically bonded to a titanium base tube by forcing the aluminum billet through a die under high pressure. The aluminum billet fills grooves machined into the outer surface of the tube, forming a strong, metallurgically bonded, continuous fin.

Key Advantages of Extruded Fins:

• Excellent Heat Transfer: The bond is almost seamless, offering very low thermal contact resistance
• High Mechanical Strength: Fins are virtually unbreakable under normal handling
• Durability: Resistant to thermal cycling and vibration.

3. Al1100 Fins
Advantages:

• High Thermal Conductivity: Excellent for transferring heat from the fin surface to the base tube.
• Good Corrosion Resistance: Forms a protective oxide layer.
• High Formability and Ductility.
• Cost-Effective: It is a relatively inexpensive aluminum alloy.

4. Key Advantages of ASME SB338 Gr.2 Extrudded Finned Tube + Al1100 Fins

• Corrosion Resistance: Titanium core handles aggressive coolants; aluminum fins provide atmospheric corrosion resistance.
• High Efficiency: The extruded aluminum fins greatly increase the heat transfer surface area.
• Lightweight: Both titanium and aluminum are low-density metals.
• Long Life & Reliability: The robust extruded bond and material choices lead to low maintenance and long service life in harsh environments.

Primary Applications

1. Power Generation – Air-Cooled Condensers (ACCs)

Function: In power plants (thermal, geothermal, CSP), steam is condensed back into water after passing through turbines. ACCs use air instead of water for cooling, conserving massive amounts of water.

Location: Common in plants in the Middle East, South Africa, parts of the US Midwest, and China.

2. Desalination Plants (Multi-Stage Flash - MSF & Multi-Effect Distillation - MED)

Function: Heat recovery sections and final condensers where hot, saline brine is the process fluid.

3. Oil & Gas – Gas Compressor Aftercoolers & Process Coolers

Function: Cooling compressed gas or process streams in offshore platforms, LNG plants, and refineries.

4. Chemical & Petrochemical Processing

Function: Coolers, condensers, and overhead condensers handling aggressive chemicals.