What Are The Significant Cost Advantages of Aluminum Tube And Fin Heat Exchangers Compared To Copper Heat Exchangers?

What are the significant cost advantages of aluminum tube and fin heat exchangers compared to copper heat exchangers?

In a market environment where copper prices remain persistently high, the cost advantage of aluminum tube and fin heat exchangers is primarily reflected in the raw material procurement stage. Currently, aluminum prices are approximately one-third to one-quarter of copper prices (specific prices fluctuate with the market). Additionally, aluminum has a density only 2.7 times that of copper (copper density: 8.96 g/cm³, aluminum density: 2.7 g/cm³). For heat exchangers with the same heat transfer area, aluminum products require less raw material and are lighter in weight, further reducing procurement and transportation costs. Additionally, aluminum is relatively easier to process. The equipment investment and energy consumption for forming processes (such as extrusion and welding) are lower than for copper products. Overall, the total cost of aluminum tube and fin heat exchangers is 30%-50% lower than copper products, making them particularly suitable for cost-sensitive, large-scale mass production scenarios.

The core advantages of aluminum in heat exchangers primarily encompass three aspects:

Lightweight benefit: Aluminum's low density significantly reduces heat exchanger weight, making it 40%-60% lighter than copper products of equivalent specifications. This facilitates equipment installation and handling, particularly in weight-sensitive applications such as indoor air conditioner units and automotive radiators.

Corrosion resistance: Aluminum readily forms a dense oxide layer (Al₂O₃) on its surface, effectively resisting erosion from air, water, and certain corrosive media. This allows long-term use in most civil and industrial applications without requiring additional coatings.

Excellent thermal conductivity. Although aluminum's thermal conductivity (approximately 237 W/(m·K)) is lower than copper's (approximately 401 W/(m·K)), this gap can be compensated for by optimizing fin structures (e.g., increasing fin density, using corrugated fins) and internal tube flow channel designs. This approach meets most heat exchange requirements while maintaining cost advantages.