Applications of Finned Tube Radiators in Industrial Settings

Applications of Finned Tube Radiators in Industrial Settings

Industry represents the primary application scenario for finned tube radiators, spanning multiple sectors including energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and food processing. The core requirement is “temperature control for production processes” (such as heating, cooling, and waste heat recovery), while also withstanding complex operating conditions like high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive environments.

Energy and Power Industry

Waste Heat Recovery from Boilers/Furnaces:

Power station boilers, Industrial kilns (e.g., blast furnaces in steel mills, rotary kilns in cement plants) emit high-temperature flue gas (200-800°C) containing substantial waste heat. High-frequency welded steel finned tube radiators (resistant to high temperatures and soot abrasion) recover this heat for preheating boiler feedwater, heating combustion air, or generating low-pressure steam. This reduces fuel consumption and meets energy-saving requirements.

Thermal Oil System Heat Exchange:

In systems relying on thermal oil as a heat carrier (e.g., chemical reactors, rubber vulcanizers), stainless steel finned tube heat exchangers function as “thermal oil coolers” (reducing high-temperature thermal oil via air or cooling water) or “process heaters” (transferring thermal oil heat to materials). This prevents thermal oil overheating and decomposition, ensuring system stability.

Generator Set Cooling:

For cylinder block cooling and lubricating oil cooling in small gas turbines and diesel generators, copper finned tube heat exchangers (high thermal efficiency) are commonly used. They rapidly dissipate heat through forced air cooling, preventing equipment overheating.

Chemical and Petrochemical Industries

Process Fluid Heating/Cooling:

In chemical production, temperature regulation is required for volatile and corrosive process fluids (e.g., acid/alkali solutions, organic solvents). 316L stainless steel finned tube heat exchangers (highly corrosion-resistant) are commonly employed. These systems heat fluids using hot water, steam, or thermal oil, or cool post-reaction high-temperature fluids with cooling water, ensuring reaction efficiency and safety.

Solvent Recovery and Distillation:

In the “reboiler” or “condenser” sections of distillation columns, finned tube heat exchangers increase heat transfer surface area. This accelerates solvent vapor condensation and recovery or provides heat to the bottom liquid for enhanced vaporization, thereby improving separation efficiency.

Food and Pharmaceutical Industries

Material Drying and Sterilization:

Food processing (e.g., grain drying, fruit/vegetable dehydration, meat thawing) and pharmaceutical applications (e.g., drying Chinese herbal slices, sterilizing drug granules) require clean, uniform hot air environments. Hydrophilic aluminum finned tube heat exchangers (resistant to condensation and easy to clean) are employed. Air is heated using steam or hot water, then delivered into drying chambers by fans. This prevents material contamination while ensuring uniform heat transfer to avoid localized overheating.

Cold Chain & Cooling:

For the “evaporator” (low-temperature side) in food cold storage and the “fresh milk cooling” stage in dairy processing, internally threaded copper finned tube heat exchangers (excellent low-temperature thermal conductivity) can be used. Combined with refrigerants, they achieve rapid cooling to preserve food freshness.

Metallurgy and Manufacturing

Metal Processing Cooling:

During steel cold rolling and aluminum extrusion, workpieces require rapid cooling for shaping. Spray-type finned tube heat exchangers (with cooling water sprayed externally while high-temperature workpiece cooling medium flows internally) or forced-air-cooled finned tubes can be employed to shorten cooling time and enhance production efficiency.

Coating and Drying Lines:

In automotive and appliance coating production lines, “drying ovens” require stable high-temperature hot air (120-200°C). Steel finned tube radiators heat circulating air to ensure uniform paint curing, while the finned structure minimizes space occupation within the oven.