Condenser is a type of heat exchanger, that condenses vapor into liquid, condenser unit consists of other parts including tubes, The condenser tube is a major component in the delivery of steam in the heating system, stainless steel tubes have good properties in transferring heat to the outside of the tube, the tube can be coil shape, to enhance efficiency, cooling fin tube is usually used.
Condenser is a common device used in power stations, to condense turbine exhaust steam into water, condensers can be designed and manufactured in small or large sizes according to application, In many cases, large condensers for industrial applications use water or some other liquid instead of air to remove heat.
Stainless Steel Condenser Tube
Stainless steel material is usually used in condenser systems, not only for tubes, but also for other parts, like shells, certainly, stainless steel tubes have good corrosion resistance, conductivity for heat as well as mechanical and physical properties.
The most common tube materials of stainless steel in a condenser are 304/304L, 316/316, 321/321H, 2205, and others, selecting proper grade based on specific applications, duplex steels have better properties suitable for high temperatures and corrosion environments.
- Austenitic: 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 316H, 316Ti, 317/317L, 347/347H, 321/321H, 310/S, 904L
- Ferritic: 409, 430, 439, 441, 434, 436, 444, 446
- Duplex: 2205, S31803, S32750, S32760
Seamless, Welded Tubes
Both seamless and welded stainless steel tubes are available for condensers, tubes must withstand high temperature, low temperature, or corrosion attack, so tubes are supplied under superior quality, avoid unnecessary repairing and maintenance.
Common standards for stainless steel condenser tubes are ASTM A213 and ASTM A249, ASTM A268, A269, A688, A803, and A789 specifications can be chosen according to user requirements, and heat treatment and bright annealing finishes can be offered to improve tube performance. Conventional eddy current testing is applied for inspection of condenser tubing.
Tube Sizes
Condenser tube sizes depend on the size of the designed condenser, generally in small sizes, the outside diameter of condenser tubes typically ranges from 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inch, wall thickness ranges from 0.035 inch to 0.065 inch, outside diameter tolerance can be over and below 0.1 mm, and wall tolerance can be over and below 10% of normal thickness, tight tolerances benefit condenser design.