Cost-effective corrosion-resistant heat exchangers

Citation

(1999), "Cost-effective corrosion-resistant heat exchangers", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 46 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.1999.12846cab.012

Cost-effective corrosion-resistant heat exchangers

Cost-effective corrosion-resistant heat exchangers

Keywords Britannia Heat Transfer, Heat exchanger

A patented process that enables heat exchanger tubes to be manufactured cost-effectively from a wide range of exotic metals has been developed by Britannia Heat Transfer.

In addition to requiring extended surfaces for high performance, heat exchanger tubes used in chemical processing, petroleum refinement, offshore and power generation industries have to withstand corrosive conditions. Until now, however, the high manufacturing cost of producing tubes from exotic alloys required to cope with these conditions has made the use of such materials prohibitive.

Britannia Heat Transfer's Elfin technology claims to have overcome this problem. Elfin is a heat exchanger tube extended surface technology that reportedly enables tubes to be manufactured cost-effectively from a wide range of exotic metals, including titanium, zirconium, hastelloy and stainless steel.

No tube deformation

The Elfin product is also available in multi-tube block matrix configurations, known as ElfinBlock. The Elfin process is said to be novel in that the fin is precision-swaged onto the tube, unlike other designs where tubes are bulleted or expanded into the fins. ElfinBlock is believed to be the only OEM air cooler block that uses no form of tube deformation, so ensuring maximum performance.

Linear motor technology provides the high level of precision and speed required to manufacture ElfinBlock, which can drastically reduce lead times. The linear motor-based feed system is fully CNC controlled and is accurate to within 10 microns. Several models within the ElfinMaster production machinery range are available, with production rates of between 5 and 200 linear metres per hour. Primary and secondary motors can be combined in both series and parallel, enabling the production of longer, wider and deeper multi-row block configurations.

Further details from Heat Transfer Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1675 466060; Fax: +44 (0)1675 462912.