ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Seamless Heat Exchanger Tube

ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Seamless Heat Exchanger Tube

ASTM A179 is a standard developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which is a specific purpose seamless steel tube suitable for the thinnest seamless steel tube used in tubular heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat conduction devices. The outer diameter specification of steel tubes specified in ASTM A179/ASME SA179 standard is between 1/8 inch and 3 inches (i.e. 3.2 to 76.2 millimeters), which is particularly suitable for thin-walled tubes.

The manufacturing process of seamless steel tubes includes hot rolling and cold drawing. ASTM A179 carbon steel heat exchanger tubes are typically manufactured using cold drawing technology. During the manufacturing process, steel tubes undergo heat treatment to improve their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. After the final cold drawing, heat treatment shall be carried out at a temperature not lower than 650 ℃.

ASTM A179 Heat Exchanger Tube Chemical Composition

ASTM A179 carbon steel seamless heat exchanger tube has a smooth surface without rust or oxide scale. Other surface qualities shall be in accordance with ASTM A450/A450M. Each batch of steel tubes needs to undergo strict testing, including hardness testing, flattening testing, expansion performance testing (or curling performance testing), and hydrostatic testing, to ensure that their quality and performance meet the requirements for use.

Comparison of ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Seamless Tubes with other Similar Tubes

1. ASTM A179 is a high-efficiency heat exchange tube manufactured using a cold-drawing process. This ensures precise dimensions and smooth inner and outer surfaces, facilitating heat transfer and preventing scaling. Its design focus is not on withstanding extremely high pressures and temperatures, but rather on achieving optimal heat exchange performance at medium to low pressures. Typical applications: Heat exchange tubes in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers, evaporators, and economizers in low-pressure sections of boilers.
2. ASME SA210 Gr. A1 is a high-pressure, high-temperature boiler tube, manufactured through hot rolling or cold drawing. It prioritizes mechanical properties at high temperatures, capable of withstanding high temperatures and pressures, and contains slightly higher carbon and manganese content to provide the creep strength and endurance strength required in high-temperature environments such as boilers and superheaters. The minimum tensile strength and yield strength requirements for ASME SA210 GR. A1 are typically higher than those for A179. Typical applications: Boiler water-cooled wall tubes, superheater tubes, reheater tubes, and other piping systems operating under high temperature and pressure.
3. ASTM A178 Gr. A is an economical resistance-welded boiler tube. The manufacturing process involves resistance welding, where steel strips are coiled and fused together using electric current to form a tube, resulting in a longitudinal weld. It offers a more economical option while ensuring basic strength. However, due to the weld, its pressure resistance, especially fatigue and creep resistance, is generally considered lower than that of seamless tubes of equivalent specifications. The weld area can also be a potential weak point. Typical applications: Boiler tubes (water-cooled walls) for low-pressure boilers, structural tubes for low-pressure heat exchangers, and applications where cost and welding efficiency are critical.

ASTM A179 Carbon Steel Heat Exchanger Tube Application

• Heat exchanger
• Condenser
• Refrigeration system
• Chemical industry
• Power industry
• Food processing industry