What is inner finned tube?

An inner finned tube is a type of heat exchanger tube that has fins on the inner surface of the tube. These fins increase the surface area of the tube, which in turn increases the efficiency of heat transfer.

The fins on the inner surface of the tube can take various forms, such as helical, straight, or spiral. The fins are usually made of a high-conductivity material, such as copper or aluminum, and are tightly bonded to the inner surface of the tube to maximize heat transfer.

Inner finned tubes are commonly used in applications where heat transfer is critical, such as in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, power plants, and chemical processing plants. They are also used in some heat exchangers for oil cooling or in boilers to increase the heat transfer efficiency of the tube.

Inner finned tube construction:

Inner finned tubes consist of a base tube with fins on the inner surface. The fins are made of a high thermal conductivity material, such as copper or aluminum, and are tightly bonded to the base tube. The fins can be straight, helical, or spiral in shape, and they typically have a height of 0.5 to 1.5 times the diameter of the tube.

Inner finned tube working principle:

The working principle of inner finned tubes is based on the fact that heat transfer between fluids is proportional to the surface area available for heat transfer. By adding fins to the inner surface of the tube, the surface area available for heat transfer is increased, and the heat transfer rate is enhanced. The fins create turbulence in the fluid flow, which increases the rate of heat transfer by enhancing the mixing of the fluid and reducing the thickness of the boundary layer.

Inner finned tube applications:

Inner finned tubes are commonly used in heat exchangers and boilers, where they are used to increase the heat transfer efficiency of the tube. They are also used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, power plants, and chemical processing plants. Some common applications include:

1. Oil coolers

2. Steam condensers

3. Evaporators

Process heaters

4. Waste heat recovery systems

5. Heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs)

Inner finned tube advantages:

Inner finned tubes offer several advantages over plain tubes, including:

Higher heat transfer efficiency: The fins increase the surface area available for heat transfer, which enhances the rate of heat transfer.

Compact size: Inner finned tubes can achieve the same heat transfer performance as plain tubes with a smaller size, which is important in applications where space is limited.

Reduced fouling: The fins can disrupt the formation of fouling layers on the tube surface, which reduces the frequency of cleaning and maintenance.

Improved thermal performance: Inner finned tubes can achieve a higher thermal performance than plain tubes with the same fluid flow rate and heat transfer area.

Inner finned tube disadvantages:

Some potential disadvantages of inner finned tubes include:

Higher cost: Inner finned tubes can be more expensive to manufacture than plain tubes.

Increased pressure drop: The fins can increase the pressure drop in the fluid flow, which can increase the pumping power required.

Susceptible to damage: The fins on the inner surface of the tube can be susceptible to damage from abrasive particles or erosion.

In order to forward you a promt offer we would be pleased to receive you detailed enquiry including:
• Base tube material 
• Base tube size (OD x WT x Length)
• Fin material
• Fin type
• Fin diameter or height
• Fin thickness
• Fins per inch, meter or fin pitch
• Lenght of plain, unfinned ends
• Finned Tube Quantity

Inner finned tube; Internally finned tube