How to Choose a More Efficient Heat Exchange Core for Your Oil Cooler?

As a critical core component of heat exchange equipment, finned tubes directly determine the heat exchange efficiency, cost per unit volume, and long term operational reliability of oil coolers. Faced with different operating conditions, media, and assembly requirements, how do you select the most suitable finned tube solution?

Jetvision specializes in various types of fin tubes, including high frequency welded finned tubes, KL/L/LL finned tubes, extruded finned tubes, low fin tubes, G type finned tubes, spiral finned tubes, and stud finned tubes, etc.

We offer custom manufacturing for all three of these processes and can recommend the most cost-effective solution based on your thermal simulation data.

Comparison of Three Fin Tube Structures

1. Wrapped Fin Tubes ( L Type / LL Type  / KL Type )

Process: Aluminum or copper strips are tightly wrapped around the outer wall of the base tube in an“L” shape.

Advantages: Mature manufacturing process, lower cost, wide range of adjustable fin density (4-12 fins per inch).

Disadvantages: Contact thermal resistance is slightly higher than that of the integral rolled type; not suitable for long term high temperature (＞180°C) or severe thermal shock conditions.

Applications: General industrial oil coolers, air coolers, and small-to-medium-sized air-cooled heat exchangers.

2. Inserted Fin Tubes (G Type)

Process: Helical grooves are machined into the outer wall of the base tube, into which fin strips are inserted and pressed tightly.

Advantages: Low contact thermal resistance, high temperature resistance (up to 300°C or higher), and good mechanical strength.

Disadvantages: Multiple processing steps, higher cost, and relatively limited fin density.

Applications: High temperature oil cooling, waste heat recovery, and auxiliary equipment cooling in power plants.

3. Integral Rolled Fin Tubes (Extruded Type)

Process: Fins are rolled directly onto the outer surface of thick-walled aluminum or copper tubes (single metal), or through bimetallic composite rolling.

Advantages: No contact thermal resistance, corrosion resistance, high fin strength, and resistance to fin collapse.

Disadvantages: Thicker base tube walls result in higher material costs; custom orders for small diameters or special materials have longer lead times.

Applications: Corrosive environments, oil coolers with frequent thermal cycling, marine and outdoor equipment.

How should the base tube material and fin material be matched?

Special Note: Dissimilar metals (steel base tube + aluminum fins) are prone to galvanic corrosion in humid environments. We recommend evaluating whether to add a surface coating or switch to an all aluminum structure based on the operating environment.

Our Process Control: Every batch of fin tubes undergoes air/hydraulic pressure testing and random inspections of critical dimensions prior to shipment. We can provide process records such as fin tightness and weld penetration testing.

As a professional supplier of heat exchanger components, we offer:

Flexible Customization: Base tube OD 8-51 mm, fin height 4-17 mm, fin spacing customized to requirements;

Multiple Materials: Carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, copper nickel alloys, titanium, and aluminum alloys;

Full Process Coverage: Fin wrapping, inlaying, integral rolling, high frequency welding, and brazing;

Rapid Prototyping and Small Batch Delivery: Samples available in as little as 7 days;

Support Services: We provide fin tube selection recommendations based on your thermal parameters and support custom manufacturing based on your drawings or joint design.