Laser Welded Finned Tubes in Production

Laser Welded Finned Tubes in Production

Compared with traditional high-frequency welding, roll forming and other finned tube processes, laser welded finned tubes have significant structural and performance advantages:

High welding strength

The weld seam formed by laser welding is metallurgically bonded, and the joint strength is close to that of the base material; the fins are not easy to fall off, and they can withstand higher fluid pressures and vibrational loads, which makes them suitable for high-pressure, high-flow velocity conditions (e.g., power station boiler exhaust gas piping).

Extremely low thermal resistance

Welded seams have a uniform depth of fusion and no false welds. The thermal resistance of the fins in contact with the base tube can be reduced to 0.0001-0.0003 m²・K/W (compared to 0.0005-0.001 m²・K/W for conventional high-frequency welding), which improves the efficiency of heat transfer by more than 30%.

Excellent corrosion resistance

The high-temperature molten pool of laser welding eliminates the oxide layer at the interface between the fins and the base tube, and the high density of the weld seam reduces the risk of corrosive media (e.g., SO₂ in exhaust gases, water vapor) penetrating into the seam. If stainless steel is used, it can be adapted to corrosive environments with a pH value of 3-12.

Compact

Laser welding allows for smaller fin spacing (down to 2mm), which increases the heat transfer area by 15%-20% over traditional finned tubes for the same tube length and reduces the overall volume by 10%-15%, making it suitable for space-constrained scenarios (e.g., vehicle air-conditioning, containerized heat transfer equipment).

The high performance of laser-welded finned tubes makes them particularly suitable for areas with stringent requirements for heat transfer efficiency, equipment life and compactness:

Waste Heat Recovery Systems: such as exhaust gas heat exchangers in cogeneration power plants, where high-temperature flue gases (300-800°C) pass through, the laser-welded fins conduct heat efficiently to heat up the cold water or air, enhancing energy utilization.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment: in air conditioning condenser or evaporator, laser welded finned tubes can enhance the heat exchange efficiency between refrigerant and air, reduce the size of the equipment, and reduce energy consumption.

Chemical anti-corrosion field: For corrosive fluids containing acid and alkali (such as chemical wastewater, flue gas desulfurization exhaust), the use of stainless steel laser welded finned tubes can resist corrosion and maintain long-term stable heat transfer performance.