The Difference Between Stainless Steel Tube and Copper Alloy Tube in Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

According to NORA study, one of the keys to maximize fuel performance is characterizing oil sludge and determining its possible contribution. Deposits found in copper tubing consisted of oxidized fuel. The clogging of copper fuel lines was one of the problems discovered, as the study found solid black particles that adhered to tube surface. Cooper has also been known to accelerate fuel-degradation process, forming particulates.

On the other hand, far fewer solid and gum were produced by fuel when exposed to steel and stainless steel. The reports recommend using steel piping materials wherever it is feasible.” This phenomenon is taken in account for heat transfer calculations. TEMA (Standards of the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association) determines Chemical Reaction Corrosion “… Coking, the hard crust deposit of hydrocarbons formed on heat transfer surfaces, is a common form of this type of fouling.” We can not recommend any means to remove this deposit from the tubing.

The high thermal conductivity of copper can not compensate poor thermal conductivity of organic solid black particles resulting in decrease of heat transfer. Table 1 demonstrates the effect of fouling on thermal resistance of copper and stainless steel tubes with wall thickness of 0.049”.

These calculations show that thermal resistance of stainless steel pipe in the fuel oil preheater will be less then thermal resistance of copper tubes, accumulated coked hard crust deposit of hydrocarbons. The thermal resistance of the tubing is only a part of total resistance of heat transfer, and the effect of fouling and tubing material can be accurately calculated in the process of the thermal design of a heat exchanger.

	Copper	Stainless Steel
k- Btu/(hr ft deg. F)	225.00	8.4
t/k - (hr sq. ft deg. F)/Btu	0.0000181	0.0004861
Fouling	0.005	0.005 (per TEMA)
Total	0.0050181	0.0054861
Per Cent	100%	109.3%

Where: t/k-Thermal Resistance of the tubes, t-wall thickness, k- coefficient of thermal conductivity.

Regretfully, TEMA Recommended Good Practice values of Fouling Resistances for Industrial Liquids do not take in consideration effect of tube material.

If the actual Fouling Resistance of # 6 Fuel Oil in the heater made from stainless steel tubing equals to 0.0025, then:

The coking of hydrocarbons accelerated at elevated temperature of heating tubes. The evaporation of light hydrocarbon residue fractions definitely accelerates coking.

As a good practice, The Alstrom Corporation recommends to maintain the temperature of heating media about 120 deg. F above the outgoing temperature of the #6 heating oil or less.

These recommendations are valid for asphalt and other highly viscous liquids. For instance, heating syrups may result in carmelization of the fluid.

Similar, but in less degree, phenomena occurs in shell & tube heat exchangers for water heating. Indeed, copper tubes are oxidized, resulting in fast accumulation of solid deposits.

Copper has poor mechanical properties, particularly on elevated temperatures common in heat transfer.

Tube-to-tube sheet joint of copper tubes with other materials commonly made by tube expansion. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code estimates efficiency if expanded joint 60-65%. Stainless steel tubes can be not only expanded but also seal welded to the tubesheet, resulting in 100% joint efficiency. In this case, according to the Standard for Power Plant Heat Exchangers of Heat Exchange Institute, the metal temperature of welded joint can reach the maximum value permitted by ASME Code.

After introducing 316 stainless steel tubes as a standard material of fabrication shell & tube heat exchangers and using expansion-welding technology The Alstrom Corporation was never reported about tube damage or leak in the tube-to-tubesheet joint.

Stainless Steel Tubing and Copper Alloy Tubing in Heat Exchanger