Keeping Copper in Air Conditioning

How the Industry is responding to the threat from alternative materials

Traditionally, air conditioning systems contain round copper tubes inside their heat exhcangers.  However, the dominance of copper is under threat from alternative materials, and research is underway to improve the technical and economical competitiveness of copper tube technology.

Flat tubes better than round !

Heat exchangers which use flat tube technology offer significant advantages over round tubes, including a 50 % size reduction, reduced refrigerant charge and lower costs.  The challenge for researchers has been to develop a method of fabricating flat multi-port brass/copper tubes with support structures that ara capable of operating at high refrigerant pressure.

 


Pressure-bearing flat copper/alloy tubes have been successfully prototyped and will soon be on the market, ensuring that copper is still an invaluable component in the HVAC&R industry.