A fin tube is a tube that has small fins around the outside surface. These fins act as a filter and a mechanism to transfer heat from the material inside the tube to the outside space or vice versa. Fin tubes are used in applications that require a transfer of heat from a hot fluid to a colder fluid through the tube’s wall. The rate at which such heat transfer occurs depends on three factors:
- The temperature difference between the two fluids.
- The heat transfer coefficient between each of the fluids and the tube wall.
- The surface area to which the fluid is exposed.
Corrosionpedia Explains Fin Tube
Fin tube manufacturers produce a wide range of fin tubes. They are used in heat exchangers (air, water and chemically cooled) for various industries such as petroleum, petrochemical, steel, power generation and many more.
Corrosion protection processes are performed during fin tube manufacturing and the material used is corrosion resistant.
Some fin tube types
| Type | Properties |
|---|---|
| “L” fin tubes | Max working temperature – 150 °C (302 °F) Atmospheric corrosion resistance – acceptable Mechanical resistance – poor Fin material – aluminum, copper |
| "LL" fin tubes | Max working temperature – 180 °C (356 °F) Atmospheric corrosion resistance – acceptable Mechanical resistance – poor Fin material – aluminum, copper |
| "KL" fin tubes | Max working temperature – 260 °C (500 °F) Atmospheric corrosion resistance – acceptable Mechanical resistance – acceptable Fin material – aluminum, copper |
| "G" fin tubes | Max working temperature – 400 °C (752 °F) Atmospheric corrosion resistance – poor Mechanical resistance – acceptable Fin material – aluminum, copper, carbon steel |
| Extruded fin tubes | Max working temperature – 285 °C (545 °F) Atmospheric corrosion resistance – excellent Mechanical resistance – excellent Fin material – aluminum |
