Fin Tube Heat Exchanger Manufacturing Process

The following is a detailed manufacturing process:

1. Design phase

Before manufacturing a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, a detailed design is required first. The design phase includes the following:

1.1. Calculate heat exchange requirements: Calculate the required heat exchange area, fluid flow rate, and other heat exchange parameters based on the application scenario, fluid type, heat transfer requirements, etc.

1.2. Select materials: Select suitable materials such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, etc., which have good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.

1.3. Determine the size of fins and pipes: Determine the shape, thickness, spacing of fins, and the diameter and length of pipes according to design requirements.

1.4. Calculate pressure loss: Consider the pressure loss during fluid flow and design a suitable flow channel structure to ensure the efficiency and performance of the equipment.

2. Material preparation

2.1. Fin material: Generally, metal sheets with good thermal conductivity such as aluminum alloy or copper are used. Aluminum alloy fins are more common because of their strong thermal conductivity and light weight.

2.2. Pipe material: Commonly used pipe materials include copper pipe, stainless steel pipe or aluminum pipe. The size and thickness of the pipe should be selected according to the design requirements of the heat exchanger.

2.3. Sealing material: used to ensure the sealing performance between the pipe and the fin to prevent fluid leakage.

3. Fin manufacturing

The production of fins usually includes the following steps:

3.1. Stamping or extrusion: Fins are often manufactured by stamping, extrusion or crimping. The stamping process can stamp the metal sheet into the desired fin shape, ensuring that the surface of the fin is smooth and convenient for heat transfer.

3.2. Fin coating treatment (optional): In order to improve the anti-corrosion performance, in some cases the surface of the fin will be treated with an anti-corrosion coating, such as anodizing, spraying or coating with an anti-corrosion coating.

3.3. Fin cleaning and deburring: After the fins are manufactured, they are cleaned and deburred to remove metal chips and surface dirt during the manufacturing process to ensure the flatness of the fin surface.

4. Pipe processing

4.1. Pipe cutting: Cut the pipe according to the design requirements and determine the length of the pipe.

4.2. Pipe bending and forming: If the pipe needs to be bent, bend it at this stage to adapt to the structural design of the heat exchanger.

4.3. Pipe cleaning: Remove impurities and oil stains in the pipe to ensure smooth fluid flow.

5. Connection between fins and pipes

5.1. Connection between heat exchanger pipes and fins: Connect the pipes to the fins. Common connection methods include mechanical fixing, welding or crimping. Crimping is a common method that fixes the fins to the pipe surface by pressure.

5.2. Strengthen fixation: Ensure a tight connection between the fins and the pipe to avoid loosening due to thermal expansion or vibration.

5.3. Sealing: Seal the connection between the pipe and the fin to prevent leakage.

6. Assembly and welding

6.1. Welding (if necessary): For parts that need to be sealed, such as the connection between the end cover and the pipe, and the connection between the pipes, perform welding. Commonly used welding methods include argon arc welding, TIG welding, etc.

6.2. Overall assembly: Assemble all components (fins, pipes, end covers, brackets, etc.) according to design requirements. For large fin-tube heat exchangers, it may be necessary to assemble different modules into subsystems before merging them as a whole.

7. Inspection and testing

7.1. Pressure test: Pressure test the welds and seals to check for leaks. Water pressure or air pressure testing methods can be used to ensure the sealing of the heat exchanger.

7.2. Heat exchange efficiency test: Test the actual heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger to ensure that its performance meets the design requirements.

7.3. Appearance inspection: Check the appearance of the heat exchanger to ensure that there are no obvious deformations, scratches or other defects that affect performance.

8. Surface treatment

8.1. Surface cleaning and anti-corrosion treatment: For aluminum fin tube heat exchangers, anodizing may be required to enhance the corrosion resistance of the surface. Other metal materials may also require spraying or other anti-corrosion treatment.

8.2. Appearance spraying (optional): Some products may be painted to improve appearance and corrosion resistance.

9. Packaging and delivery

9.1. Packaging: Protectively package the heat exchanger to avoid damage during transportation. Packaging methods may include wooden box packaging, foam packaging, etc.

9.2. Factory inspection and shipment: Before leaving the factory, a final inspection is carried out to ensure that the product meets the standards. After all tests are completed, the heat exchanger is sent to the customer or installation site.

10. Summary:

The production process of fin tube heat exchangers involves multiple links from design, material preparation to production, assembly and testing. Each link requires precise operation and high-quality materials to ensure the efficiency, stability and durability of the heat exchanger. In the production process, the connection between fins and pipes, sealing treatment and pressure testing are key steps, which directly affect the performance and service life of the heat exchanger.