Womic Stainless Steel Co., Ltd
Production Size & Dimension Range
Outside Diameter (OD):
Metric:φ6.35– φ101.6 mm
Imperial: 1/4” –4”
Wall Thickness: 0.5–8.0 mm
Length:
Random length or fixed length
Straight tubes up to 30 meters
Surface Finish:
Bright Annealed (BA)
Pickled & Annealed (AP)
Dimensional Tolerance:
OD tolerance up to±0.2%
Inner Surface Roughness:
Ra 0.25μm–Ra 0.80μm
Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger–Product
Introduction
A Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger is a typical and widely used heat transfer device designed to allow two fluids at different temperatures to exchange heat efficiently. Through controlled heat transfer within the exchanger shell, one fluid can be cooled while the other is heated, achieving the required operating temperature for industrial processes.
The tube bundle consists of multiple groups of tubes densely packed together to form the heat transfer core. The bundle is enclosed within a tubular shell fabricated from pressure vessel steel plates. When hot liquids or gases flow through the tubes, the large combined external surface area of the tubes enables highly efficient heat transfer to the cooling or heating medium (such as water) inside the shell. This design ensures stable thermal performance, high efficiency, and long service life.
Tube bundle heat exchangers are extensively used in power plants, oil & gas processing, petrochemical plants, chemical industries, refineries, HVAC systems, and marine applications.
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Types of Tube Bundle Heat Exchangers There are two main structural types of tube bundles: |
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1. Straight Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger For high-pressure and high-temperature applications Easier tube cleaning and inspection Widely used in condensers, coolers, and heaters |
2. U-Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger Designed to accommodate thermal expansion Reduced tube-to-tube sheet stress Ideal for applications with large temperature differences |
Tube bundle configuration plays a critical role in the thermal performance, maintenance strategy, cost, and service life of a heat exchanger. The two most common designs are Straight Tube Bundles and U-Tube Bundles, each suitable for different operating conditions.
Straight Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger
The Straight Tube Bundle is the traditional and previously most widely used tube bundle design.
In this configuration, straight tubes are fixed into tube sheets at both ends, with the tube bundle extending linearly through the shell. Hot liquid or gas flows through the tubes in a straight path from one end of the shell to the other, while the cooling or heating medium circulates on the shell side.
Key Characteristics of StainlessTubes Heat Exchanger Tube:
Tubes are straight and fixed at both ends
Fluid flows in a single, straight direction
Simple flow path with efficient heat transfer
Advantages of StainlessTubes Heat Exchanger Tube:
High heat transfer efficiency
Simple tube geometry
Lower manufacturing and installation cost compared with U-tube bundles
Suitable for applications with small temperature differences
Limitations of StainlessTubes Heat Exchanger Tube:
Thermal expansion is restricted, which may cause stress at high temperature differences
Maintenance and cleaning are more demanding, as the shell often needs to be opened and the tube bundle fully removed
Less suitable for severe thermal cycling conditions
U-shaped tubes with one tube sheet
Inlet and outlet on the same side
Natural flexibility to absorb thermal expansion
Advantages
Excellent resistance to thermal expansion and contraction
Ideal for large temperature differences
Reduced tube-to-tube sheet stress
Easier bundle removal and maintenance, as the bundle can be slid out as a modular unit
Longer service life under high-temperature operation
Limitations
Slightly higher initial cost than straight tube bundles
Tube-side mechanical cleaning is more difficult near the U-bend
Typical Applications of Stainless Straight Tubes Heat Exchanger Tube:
High-temperature heat exchangers
Boilers and power plants
Petrochemical and refinery services
Applications with frequent thermal cycling
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Tube Materials for Tube Bundle Heat Exchangers |
Depending on operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, corrosion resistance, and process media, the following tube materials are commonly used: |
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Carbon Steel Tubes |
ASTM A179 / ASME SA179 / SA179M ASTM A192 ASTM A333 ASTM A334 |
Applications: Low to medium temperature and pressure heat exchangers, boilers, condensers. |
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Alloy Steel Tubes |
ASTM A213 T5 ASTM A213 T9 ASTM A213 T11 ASTM A213 T22 ASTM A213 T91 |
Applications: High-temperature and high-pressure services such as power plants and petrochemical processing. |
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Copper Tubes |
Excellent thermal conductivity |
Suitable for clean, non-corrosive media Commonly used in HVAC and marine cooling systems |
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We offer a comprehensive range of austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel and super stainless steel heat exchanger tubes, including but not limited to: |
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Austenitic Stainless Steels
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ASTM A213 / A269 / A249 TP304 / 304L TP316 / 316L TP321 TP310S TP347 / 347H |
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Duplex & Super Duplex Stainless Steels |
ASTM A789 / ASTM A790 UNS S31803 / S32205 (Duplex 2205) UNS S32750 / S32760 (Super Duplex 2507) |
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Super Austenitic Stainless Steels |
ASTM A213 UNS N08904 (904L) (Other nickel alloys, titanium or special grades available upon request.) |
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Grade |
C |
Cr |
Ni |
Mo |
N |
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304 |
≤0.08 |
18–20 |
8–10.5 |
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— |
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316L |
≤0.03 |
16–18 |
10–14 |
2–3 |
— |
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321 |
≤0.08 |
17–19 |
9–12 |
— |
Ti |
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2205 |
≤0.03 |
21–23 |
4.5–6.5 |
2.5–3.5 |
0.14–0.20 |
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2507 |
≤0.03 |
24–26 |
6–8 |
3–5 |
0.24–0.32 |
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904L |
≤0.02 |
19–23 |
23–28 |
4–5 |
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Shell (Tank) Material Options
The shell (heat exchanger tank) is manufactured from pressure vessel quality steel plates, ensuring strength, safety, and long-term operation:
ASTM A516 Grade 70
ASTM A572 Grade 50
ASTM A537 Class 1
Key Advantages of Tube Bundle Heat Exchangers
Large heat transfer surface area for high efficiency
Reliable performance under high temperature and pressure
Flexible material selection for various media
Long service life and low maintenance cost
Suitable for both heating and cooling applications
Mechanical & Physical Properties (Typical)
Yield Strength:
Austenitic:≥205 MPa
Duplex 2205:≥450 MPa
Tensile Strength:
Austenitic:≥515 MPa
Duplex 2205:≥620 MPa
Elongation:≥30% (austenitic)
Excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion mismatch
High resistance to stress corrosion cracking, pitting and crevice corrosion
Inspection & Testing Requirements
According to customer requirements and applicable standards, we can perform:
Hydrostatic Test
Eddy Current Test (ECT)
Ultrasonic Testing (UT–100%)
Chemical Composition Analysis
Mechanical Tests (Tensile, Flattening, Flaring)
PMI (Positive Material Identification)
Dimensional & Surface Inspection
Mill Test Certificate EN 10204 3.1 supplied with each batch.
Typical Applications
Condensers
Coolers
Low to medium temperature heat exchangers
Systems where cost control is a priority
U-Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger
The U-Tube Bundle is the modern and commonly recommended design, especially for demanding operating conditions.
In this layout, U-shaped tubes are fixed into a single tube sheet, with both the inlet and outlet located on the same side of the shell. A channel head or tube-side bonnet is divided into two sealed chambers, allowing the fluid to flow down one leg of the U-tube and return through the other.
Our stainless steel heat exchanger tubes are widely used in:
Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers
Condensers & Evaporators
Seawater Coolers & Desalination Plants
Power Plants & Boiler Systems
Oil & Gas Processing
Petrochemical & Chemical Plants
Fertilizer & Ammonia Systems
HVAC & District Heating
Food & Beverage Heat Exchange Equipment
Pharmaceutical & Clean Process Industries
Seamless precision tubes with uniform wall thickness
Excellent corrosion resistance and anti-fouling performance
Long service life, reduced maintenance & downtime
Higher overall heat transfer efficiency than copper tubes
Suitable for high temperature, high pressure and aggressive media
Flexible production: small batches & large projects
Fast delivery & stable quality control
One-stop solution from raw material to finished tubes
Raw material selection & billet inspection
Cold Drawing or Cold Rolling
Precision sizing & straightening
Bright Annealing / Solution Annealing
Pickling & Surface Finishing
Eddy Current / Ultrasonic Testing
Dimensional inspection & marking
Final packing & shipment
Individual plastic caps on tube ends
Bundled with steel strips or wooden boxes
Seaworthy export packing
Customized packing as per customer request
EXW / FOB / CFR / CIF available
Container shipment or bulk cargo
Global delivery to Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa & Americas
Short lead time with reliable logistics partners
Womic Stainless Steel–Your Reliable Heat Exchanger Tube Supplier
Email: info@womicstainless.com
Website: www.womicstainless.com
Please contact us for technical consultation, material selection, quotation or urgent replacement needs. Our engineering team will support you with the most cost-effective and reliable heat exchanger tube solutions.
