Air conditioning systems are necessary for preserving comfortable interior environments. This is especially true in places with extreme temperatures. One crucial part of these systems is the tubing. They transport conditioned air throughout internal environments. Services like tube manipulation are great here. They can deliver components for systems for all kinds of needs.

Among the many tubing materials used for air conditioning, aluminium has increased in popularity. This is because of its distinct attributes. What we want to do here is explore the different kinds of aluminium tubes you can use for these systems. We’ll include their advantages and why they are popular.

With air conditioning systems, the choice of tube material is vital for the system’s overall cost effectiveness, durability, and efficiency. Copper has traditionally been a popular pick. However, aluminium is being considered more thanks to its many advantages.

Aluminium’s advantages

One of these big benefits is it is lightweight. Aluminium is far lighter than materials like steel and copper. It makes installation simpler and lowers the system’s overall weight.

Second, we have the corrosion resistance. Aluminium possesses a natural oxide layer, which keeps it safe from corrosive elements. This attribute guarantees a longer lifespan for your tubes. They will even last in environments where they are exposed to moisture.

Next, aluminium is recyclable without any loss of properties. Due to this, it’s an environmentally friendly choice. Talk to us if you need stellar tube manipulation services.

Aluminium is cost effective too. It’s generally more affordable than copper. So, you can use it for larger installations. The lower material cost doesn’t mean a compromise on performance though. As a result, it is a popular pick for budget-conscious projects.

Finally, even though it’s not as high as copper, aluminium still possesses great thermal conductivity. This is critical for the effective transfer of heat in air conditioning systems.

We’ll now look at the kinds of aluminium tubes you can use for air conditioning.

Seamless tubing

Firstly, there is tube formed from a single, extruded bit of aluminium. This creates a smooth, continuous utensil with no weld seams.

Advantages of these tubes include them being stronger and more pressure resistant thanks to the absence of a seam. There is a more uniform wall thickness too, resulting in consistent heat transfer.

As for the disadvantages, they tend to be more expensive than welded tubes because of the manufacturing. Also, the extrusion process means there are restrictions in the length.

Welded tubing

Next we have tubes that do have a weld seam. There are different ways to create them, including various welding techniques. Crucially, you need to be careful with things like tube manipulation because of the weld.

The advantages here include being more cost efficient than seamless tubing. Additionally, they are available in longer lengths. This leads to increased flexibility in installation.

Disadvantages include the weld joint being a possible weakness, particularly under high pressure. They may have minor variations in wall thickness around the weld too. This could potentially affect heat transfer.

How to decide?

When choosing between seamless and welded tubes, you need to look at three areas. These are pressure, heat transfer, and cost. For the first, seamless tubes are preferable for high pressure air conditioning applications. They are especially helpful in the supply lines. With heat transfer, when you need consistency, seamless tubes can provide a slight advantage. Lastly, there is cost. If budget is very important, welded tubes can work well for lower pressure parts of the system.

You can count on us for tube manipulation

At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we are experts in the field of tubing. Our people use various manipulation techniques to provide tube with the exact features it needs. This includes bends and different types of end. The reputation for excellence we have will show you we’re the best choice for this type of work.

So, if you’d like to do business with us and get the finest tube manipulation services, please get in touch. We can work with clients from almost any industry.