A large oil refinery in Morocco needed a batch of custom-made longitudinal finned tubes for its heavy oil heat exchangers. In the refinery environment, due to the high viscosity of the medium, it was essential to ensure seamless heat transfer while maintaining good mechanical properties under high temperature and pressure conditions.
In the petrochemical/refining industry, longitudinal finned tubes are specifically used in shell-and-tube heat exchangers and heating equipment. Compared to spiral fins, this longitudinal arrangement is more conducive to fluid discharge and effectively prevents fluid flow obstruction.
To meet the stringent operating conditions, Datang proposed and implemented the following meticulously designed solution.
Longitudinal Finned Tubes Technical Specification
- Material: ASTM A106 GRB (Carbon Steel Seamless Pipe)
- Outer Diameter (OD): 26.9 mm
- Wall Thickness: 3.4 mm
- Tube Length: 2215 mm
- Ends: Bare ends with 50 mm / 35 mm (likely referring to specific un-finned zones at both ends for welding/sealing)
- Fin Material: SPCC (Cold Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet)
- Fin Thickness: 1.0 mm
- Fin Length: 2130 mm
- Number of Fins: 24 pcs
- Fin Outer Diameter (Fin OD): 76 mm
Manufacturing process of longitudinal finned tubes
These tubes are made by high-frequency resistance welding of the fins of the base tube along its length.
Fin count verification:
The specified 24 fins fully comply with manufacturing standards. These longitudinally arranged fins are welded together in pairs; therefore, the number of fins must always be a multiple of 4.
Material Compatibility:
A106 GRB is a standard medium carbon steel pipe widely used in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, making it ideal for refinery environments.
SPCC is a standard cold-rolled steel commonly used in fin manufacturing due to its good formability and cost-effectiveness.
Why choose Datang?
- Our advanced automated resistance welding machines achieve a welding pass rate of over 98% between SPCC heatsinks and A106 base tubes. This process ensures excellent heat conduction performance while effectively preventing the heatsinks from loosening under thermal cycling.
- Strict non-destructive testing and dimensional control: Before shipment, our quality control team conducts rigorous testing, including hydrostatic testing, inspection of fin-to-tube connections, and precise measurement of the longitudinal finned tube length. These measures ensure that the product pass rate remains at the highest level.
- To ensure the 2215 mm long pipes were not damaged during transport to sea freight to Casablanca,Morocco, we treated them with rust prevention. Furthermore, the pipes were packed in IPPC-certified steel and wooden crates to prevent displacement during sea transport.
Whether you’re designing new heat exchangers or replacing old refinery equipment, Datang Finned Tubes can provide tailored solutions. For technical consultation, custom drawings, or an immediate quote, please contact us today.
