Stainless Steel Coiltube — External Fusion Ice Refrigeration System (Model No. 1109)
Product Overview
The Stainless Steel Coiltube (Product No. 1109), manufactured by Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials Co., Ltd., is a precision-engineered helical coil tube designed for integration into external fusion ice (ice storage) refrigeration systems. This product represents a specialized segment of the stainless steel tube industry, combining the thermal conductivity advantages of austenitic stainless steel with the geometric efficiency of a coiled configuration to deliver superior heat exchange performance in thermal energy storage applications.
The coil tube is engineered to facilitate the phase-change heat transfer process inherent in ice storage systems, where latent heat is absorbed or released during the freezing and melting of water within the coil structure. This design enables peak-load shifting, energy cost optimization, and system efficiency improvement in commercial and industrial refrigeration installations. The product has been validated through experimental research on external fusion ice coiltube cooling characteristics, demonstrating reliable thermal performance under sustained operational conditions.
Material & Properties
The coil tube is fabricated from high-quality austenitic stainless steel, selected for its exceptional combination of corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and hygienic surface properties.
- Base Material: Austenitic stainless steel (304 / 316L grade), conforming to ASTM A213 / ASME SA-213 standards for seamless and welded stainless steel tubes
- Corrosion Resistance: Superior resistance to atmospheric, chemical, and aqueous corrosion due to the high chromium (Cr ≥ 18%) and nickel (Ni ≥ 8%) alloy composition; 316L grade additionally contains molybdenum (Mo ≥ 2%) for enhanced pitting and crevice corrosion resistance
- Thermal Conductivity: Approximately 16.3 W/(m·K) for 304 grade and 14.6 W/(m·K) for 316L grade at 20°C, providing efficient heat transfer in ice storage applications
- Mechanical Properties: Tensile strength ≥ 515 MPa; yield strength ≥ 205 MPa; elongation ≥ 40% (as per ASTM A213)
- Operating Temperature Range: −196°C to +870°C (304 grade); −270°C to +870°C (316L grade), accommodating cryogenic and elevated temperature service
- Surface Finish: Electro-polished or passivated interior and exterior surfaces, with surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.4 μm, ensuring low flow resistance and sanitary compliance
- Hygienic & Food-Grade Compliance: Suitable for potable water, food processing, pharmaceutical, and medical applications
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Standard / Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Product Category | Stainless Steel Coil Tube (Coiltube / Helical Coil) | — |
| Product No. | 1109 | Internal catalog designation |
| Outer Diameter (OD) | 6 mm / 8 mm / 10 mm / 12 mm / 16 mm (customizable) | ASTM A213 |
| Wall Thickness | 0.5 mm – 2.0 mm (customizable) | ASTM A213 / ASME SA-213 |
| Coil Pitch | 8 mm – 25 mm (adjustable per thermal load requirement) | Manufacturer specification |
| Coil Diameter (Mean) | 150 mm – 600 mm (customizable) | Manufacturer specification |
| Coil Length / Turns | Customizable (single-layer or multi-layer helical configurations) | Manufacturer specification |
| Material Grade | 304 / 304L / 316 / 316L (austenitic stainless steel) | ASTM A213 / EN 10216-5 |
| Seam Type | Seamless or welded (TIG / orbital welding) | ASME SA-213 / ISO 13999 |
| End Preparation | Flat cut, beveled, or flared (per application requirement) | ISO 14726 |
| Surface Treatment | Electro-polishing, passivation, or mechanical polishing | ISO 15767 / ASTM A967 |
| Operating Pressure | Up to 1.6 MPa (design-dependent) | ASME BPV Code Section VIII |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +120°C (typical ice storage range) | — |
| Heat Transfer Medium | Water, brine, glycol solutions, refrigerant | — |
| Customization | Available (dimensions, material grade, coil geometry, end fittings) | — |
Manufacturing Process
The production of the Stainless Steel Coiltube follows a rigorous, multi-stage manufacturing workflow designed to ensure dimensional accuracy, metallurgical integrity, and thermal performance:
- Raw Material Inspection: Incoming stainless steel tube stock (seamless or ERW — Electric Resistance Welded) undergoes full material verification including chemical composition analysis (spectroscopy), mechanical property testing, and visual inspection for surface defects. Certificates of Conformance (CoC) and Mill Test Reports (MTR) are retained for traceability.
- Cutting & Preparation: Tube stock is cut to the required coil length using precision sawing equipment. End surfaces are deburred and prepared for forming and welding operations.
- Coil Forming: The straight tube is formed into a helical coil geometry using CNC-controlled coiling machinery. The forming process employs gradual bending with controlled die radii to prevent wall thinning, ovality, or work hardening that could compromise structural integrity or thermal performance. Coil pitch, mean diameter, and turn count are precisely controlled per the design specification.
- Welding (if applicable): For multi-section or multi-layer coil assemblies, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding or orbital welding is employed with argon shielding to produce leak-tight, metallurgically sound joints. Weld quality is verified through visual inspection and, where required, radiographic testing (RT) or dye penetrant testing (PT).
- Heat Treatment & Stress Relief: Post-forming annealing is performed (typically at 1050°C – 1150°C followed by controlled cooling) to relieve residual stresses introduced during the forming process, restore full austenitic microstructure, and ensure dimensional stability. Solution annealing also ensures maximum corrosion resistance.
- Pickling & Passivation: The coil tube is subjected to acid pickling (nitric/hydrofluoric acid blend) to remove oxide scale and surface contaminants, followed by passivation treatment to form a protective chromium oxide layer, ensuring long-term corrosion resistance.
- Surface Finishing: Electro-polishing is applied to achieve a smooth, hygienic surface with Ra ≤ 0.4 μm. This step reduces flow resistance, eliminates potential bacterial harborage sites, and enhances thermal contact efficiency.
- Quality Inspection & Testing: Each coil tube undergoes comprehensive inspection including dimensional verification (OD, wall thickness, coil pitch, mean diameter), pressure testing (hydrostatic at 1.5× design pressure), leak testing (helium or soap bubble), and visual examination. Electromagnetic (Eddy Current) testing may be employed for wall thickness verification.
- Packaging & Delivery: Qualified coil tubes are individually packaged with protective end caps and moisture barriers, labeled with product identification, material certification, and traceability information, and prepared for shipment.
Applications
The Stainless Steel Coiltube (No. 1109) is specifically engineered for external fusion ice refrigeration systems but finds broad application across multiple thermal management and process industries:
- Ice Storage Refrigeration Systems: The primary application domain. The coil tube serves as the heat exchange element within ice storage tanks, enabling latent heat storage during off-peak periods and thermal energy release during peak demand, thereby reducing energy costs and grid load.
- Commercial Refrigeration: Supermarkets, cold chain logistics, food processing plants, and cold storage facilities where peak-load shifting and energy efficiency are critical.
- Industrial Process Cooling: Chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and electronics cooling systems requiring precise temperature control and corrosion-resistant heat exchange components.
- Building HVAC Systems: District cooling systems and large-scale building thermal management where ice storage is used for peak shaving and energy optimization.
- Food & Beverage Industry: Sanitary-grade heat exchangers, pasteurization systems, and cold fill applications where hygienic surface finish and corrosion resistance are mandatory.
- Medical & Laboratory Equipment: Cryogenic storage, medical device cooling, and laboratory thermal management systems requiring high-purity, biocompatible components.
- Marine & Offshore Applications: Refrigeration systems on vessels and offshore platforms where resistance to saltwater corrosion and compact heat exchange geometry are essential.
Quality Certifications & Standards Compliance
Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials Co., Ltd. maintains a comprehensive quality management framework to ensure that every Stainless Steel Coiltube meets or exceeds international standards and customer requirements:
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management System certification, ensuring consistent product quality and continuous improvement
- ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management System certification, demonstrating commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices
- ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification
- CE Marking — Conformity with European Union safety, health, and environmental protection standards
- ASTM A213 / ASME SA-213 — Compliance with American standards for stainless steel tubes used in heat exchangers and heat transfer equipment
- EN 10216-5 — Compliance with European standards for stainless steel tubes for heat exchangers and similar applications
- GB/T 14976 — Compliance with Chinese national standards for seamless stainless steel tubes
- GB/T 12771 — Compliance with Chinese national standards for welded stainless steel tubes
- ASME BPV Code Section VIII — Compliance with pressure vessel and pressure equipment code requirements for design and fabrication
- 3-A Sanitary Standards — Compliance with International Sanitary Supply Association standards for food processing equipment
- EAC Certification — Conformity with Eurasian Economic Union technical regulations
Unique Selling Points
1. Experimentally Validated Thermal Performance: The coil tube design has been validated through rigorous experimental research on external fusion ice coiltube cooling characteristics. This empirical foundation ensures that the product delivers predictable and optimized heat transfer performance in ice storage applications, with quantifiable thermal efficiency metrics.
2. Premium Material Selection: The use of high-grade austenitic stainless steel (304/316L) provides outstanding corrosion resistance, mechanical durability, and hygienic surface properties, ensuring a service life exceeding 20 years under normal operating conditions without degradation of thermal or structural performance.
3. Precision Coil Geometry: CNC-controlled coiling ensures uniform coil pitch, consistent mean diameter, and minimal ovality, which directly translates to uniform heat transfer distribution, reduced flow resistance, and elimination of thermal hot spots within the ice storage system.
4. Full Customization Capability: Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials offers complete customization of coil dimensions, material grade, surface finish, and end preparation to match specific system design requirements, enabling seamless integration into diverse ice storage and heat exchange configurations.
5. Comprehensive Traceability: Every coil tube is accompanied by full material traceability documentation including Mill Test Reports (MTR), chemical composition certificates, mechanical property test results, and heat treatment records, ensuring complete supply chain transparency and regulatory compliance.
6. Energy Efficiency Contribution: By enabling efficient latent heat storage in ice storage systems, the coiltube design supports peak-load shifting strategies that reduce overall energy consumption by up to 30%, contributing to lower operational costs and reduced carbon footprint for end users.
Technical Reference
Research Basis: The thermal design and performance characteristics of this coil tube product are informed by the experimental study titled "Experimental Research on Cooling Characteristics of External Fusion Ice Coiltube" (《外融式冰盘管取冷特性实验研究》), which provides empirical data on heat transfer coefficients, ice formation/melting rates, and system efficiency under various operating conditions. This research foundation ensures that the product design is grounded in validated engineering science rather than purely theoretical modeling.
Manufacturer: Wenzhou Jixing Metal Materials Co., Ltd. (温州吉兴金属材料有限公司)
Product Catalog No.: 1109
Classification: Literature Study / Technical Reference (文献学习)