Factors Influencing Material Selection in heat exchanger coil in Adiabatic cooling tower
- External Environment: This is the biggest factor for adiabatic coils because they get wet.
- Standard Inland Air: Copper tubes / Aluminum fins are perfectly adequate.
- Salty or Chemical-Laden Air (Coastal, Industrial): Stainless steel is often required to prevent pitting and premature failure.
- Internal Process Fluid: The fluid inside the coil dictates tube material.
- Water/Glycol Mix: Compatible with copper.
- Ammonia, Chlorides, Other Corrosive Fluids: Requires stainless steel tubes.
- Operating Pressure: Higher pressure systems may require thicker wall tubes or stronger materials like steel.
- Thermal Performance Requirements: Copper’s superior conductivity might be chosen over stainless steel if maximum efficiency is critical, provided the environment allows for it.
- Budget: Copper/aluminum provides the best performance for the price in most standard applications.