What are Copper Finned Tubes?

What is a Copper Finned Tube?

An all-copper finned tube consists of a seamless copper base tube (typically C12200 or C11000) with integral or attached copper fins. The fins dramatically increase the surface area per unit length, allowing more heat to be transferred between the fluid inside the tube and the air, gas, or liquid outside.

Copper is the preferred material for many finned tube applications because it:

• Has thermal conductivity approximately 20× greater than steel (≈380–400 W/m·K).
• Naturally corrosion-resistant in most atmospheric and water environments.
• Offers antifouling properties that reduce biofilm and scale formation.
• 100% recyclable, supporting sustainability goals.

Why Choose Copper Finned Tubes?

For applications requiring maximum heat transfer, long service life, and corrosion resistance in humid or mildly aggressive environments, all-copper finned tubes offer the best life-cycle value.

Main Types of Copper Finned Tubes

At Shanghai T.S. Industrial Co., Ltd., we manufacture three primary types of copper finned tubes, each suited for different performance requirements:

1. Integral Copper Finned Tubes

A thick-walled copper tube is placed over a mandrel, and a rotating finning disk displaces material outward to form longitudinal or helical fins from the tube wall itself. No additional metal is added.

Subtypes:
• Low finned tubes (fins per inch: 16–26 FPI, fin height 1.0–1.6 mm) – for condensation and evaporation of refrigerants.
• Medium/high finned tubes (fin height 6–16 mm) – for air coolers, heat pumps, and dry coolers.

 

Advantages:
Seamless metallurgical bond (fins and tube are one piece). No thermal contact resistance. Withstands high temperatures (up to 300°C) and thermal cycling.

Application: Condensers, evaporators, heat pump coils, and oil coolers.

The Integral Copper Finned Tubes offer remarkable durability and thermal efficiency for demanding heat exchange systems.

2. Laser Welded Copper Finned Tubes

A copper fin strip (plain or serrated) is helically wound around the copper base tube and continuously welded using a high-power laser beam. The laser melts the fin foot and the tube surface, creating a deep, narrow weld zone with minimal heat-affected area.

 

Advantages:
Extremely strong, void-free weld. High fin density (up to 20 FPI) without bond failure. Suitable for high-vibration environments. Better corrosion resistance in welded zone compared to brazing.

Application: Industrial air coolers, steam-to-air heaters, and applications requiring very tight fin spacing.

3. Inner Finned Tube for Compressor Coolers

Specifically designed for Ingersoll Rand air compressor coolers and similar applications.

Structure: This is not a conventional internally finned tube. Instead, it consists of three concentric elements:
- Inner tube (for one fluid, e.g., compressed air or oil).
- Outer tube (for the cooling medium, e.g., water or coolant).
- Axial fins made of copper, placed between the inner and outer tubes. The fins run longitudinally along the outer circumference of the inner tube. In cross-section, these fins appear as wave-shaped (undulating) profiles, maximizing heat transfer surface area within the annular gap while promoting turbulent flow.

This inner finned tube (tube-in-tube with wave-shaped axial fins) delivers outstanding thermal density in compact spaces while eliminating galvanic concerns due to all‑copper construction.

Advantages:
Extremely high heat transfer density in a compact annular space. The wave-shaped fins induce turbulence, significantly improving the cooling side heat transfer coefficient. All-copper construction eliminates galvanic corrosion, critical for long-term reliability in compressor environments.

What applications are copper finned tubes used for?

Advantages of Choosing Our Copper Finned Tubes

Maintenance and Life Extension Tips

• Keep fins clean: For external finned tubes (rolled/laser welded), use compressed air or soft-bristle brush (never steel). For greasy deposits, mild alkaline cleaner.
• For inner finned tube (compressor cooler): Ensure cooling water is treated and filtered to prevent scale buildup between inner and outer tubes. Periodic chemical cleaning may be required.
• Avoid ammonia-based detergents: Ammonia causes stress corrosion cracking in copper alloys.
• Check galvanic compatibility: Always use copper, brass, or stainless steel piping connections with all-copper finned tubes.
• Protect from freezing: If used in water coils, incorporate freeze protection (glycol) or drain the system in winter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)