Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tubing is a high-performance cylindrical tube meticulously crafted from a single, solid billet of stainless steel. Unlike welded tubes, it has no weld joint, ensuring superior structural integrity and reliability, especially under high-stress, high-pressure, and corrosive conditions. These tubes are specifically designed to be the core component in heat exchangers, which are devices used to efficiently transfer heat between two or more fluids. The use of high-quality stainless steel provides exceptional resistance to corrosion, high temperatures, and stress, making it an ideal choice for critical applications in various industries.
Key Features and Advantages of Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube
Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube offer a unique combination of benefits that make them invaluable in the most demanding industries:
Exceptional Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel's inherent properties provide outstanding resistance to oxidation, pitting, and crevice corrosion, especially in chloride-containing environments.
High Strength and Pressure Tolerance: The seamless construction eliminates a potential weak point, allowing the tube to safely handle high internal and external pressures, which is critical for safety and efficiency.
Superior Heat Transfer Efficiency: The smooth internal and external surfaces of the tube, combined with stainless steel's thermal properties, facilitate efficient heat exchange and reduce the risk of fouling or scaling.
Excellent Toughness: It maintains good toughness at a wide range of operational temperatures, from cryogenic to elevated heat, making it suitable for diverse applications.
Long-Term Reliability: The absence of a weld seam and the high-quality material ensure enhanced durability and a longer service life, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
Product Specifications and Data
To provide a comprehensive overview of this high-performance material, here are the detailed technical specifications and performance data for Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube.
Table 1: Typical Chemical Composition of Stainless Steel
The composition of stainless steel is carefully balanced to achieve its superior corrosion resistance and durability.
|
Element |
Type 304 (%) |
Type 316L (%) |
|
Chromium (Cr) |
18.0 - 20.0 |
16.0 - 18.0 |
|
Nickel (Ni) |
8.0 - 10.5 |
10.0 - 14.0 |
|
Molybdenum (Mo) |
≤ 0.75 |
2.0 - 3.0 |
|
Carbon (C) |
≤ 0.08 |
≤ 0.03 |
|
Manganese (Mn) |
≤ 2.0 |
≤ 2.0 |
|
Silicon (Si) |
≤ 1.0 |
≤ 1.0 |
|
Phosphorus (P) |
≤ 0.045 |
≤ 0.045 |
|
Sulfur (S) |
≤ 0.030 |
≤ 0.030 |
|
Iron (Fe) |
Balance |
Balance |
Note: Data for commonly used grades 304 and 316L. Other grades are available based on specific application requirements.
Table 2: Typical Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is designed to maintain its strength and integrity in challenging operational environments.
|
Property |
Value (Type 316L) |
|
Tensile Strength |
≥ 485 MPa |
|
Yield Strength |
≥ 170 MPa |
|
Elongation |
≥ 40% |
|
Hardness |
≤ 95 HRB |
Table 3: Typical Physical Properties of Stainless Steel
These physical properties highlight the material's ability to perform reliably under a wide range of conditions.
|
Property |
Value (Type 316L) |
|
Density |
8.0 g/cm³ |
|
Melting Point |
1375 - 1400 °C |
|
Thermal Expansion |
16.0 µm/m·°C (20-100°C) |
|
Thermal Conductivity |
15.2 W/m·K (20°C) |
|
Modulus of Elasticity |
193 GPa |
|
Electrical Resistivity |
0.74 x 10⁻⁶ Ω·m (20°C) |
Common Applications of Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube
The combination of high strength and exceptional corrosion resistance of seamless stainless steel heat exchanger tubes makes them a preferred choice for:
Chemical and Petrochemical Processing: Used in shell and tube heat exchangers, evaporators, and condensers for various corrosive fluids.
Oil and Gas Industry: In refineries and offshore platforms for cooling, heating, and gas processing.
Power Generation: In steam condensers, heat recovery steam generators (HRSG), and feed-water heaters.
Food and Beverage: For hygienic heat exchange in pasteurization and sterilization processes.
Pharmaceuticals: In clean-room environments for process heating and cooling where hygiene and material purity are paramount.
Manufacturing Process of Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube
The manufacturing of a Seamless Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tube is a precise, multi-step process that ensures the highest quality and performance:
- Heating: A solid billet of stainless steel is heated to a high temperature.
- Piercing: A piercing mill pushes a mandrel through the center of the heated billet to form a hollow shell.
- Drawing and Sizing: The hollow shell is cold-drawn or cold-rolled to precisely reduce its diameter and wall thickness to the required specifications. This process also improves the material's mechanical properties and surface finish.
- Heat Treatment: The tube is heat-treated to relieve stress and ensure the final product meets specified metallurgical properties.
- Finishing: The tube is then subjected to straightening, cutting to length, and non-destructive testing (such as eddy current or hydrostatic testing) to verify its integrity before final inspection and packaging. This meticulous process ensures that every seamless heat exchanger tube meets the highest standards for performance and reliability.
