ASME SA179 A179 Carbon Steel Cold Drawn Steel Heat Exchanger Tube Coil for Industrial Boiler Economizer & Heat Exchanger Systems
The core application of A179 material is in economizer tube bundles for power plants/industrial boilers: boiler feedwater flows inside the tubes, while high-temperature flue gas exits from the boiler flows outside.
Using the waste heat of the flue gas to preheat the feedwater reduces the exhaust gas temperature, improves boiler efficiency, and brings the feedwater temperature closer to the boiler drum wall temperature, reducing temperature fluctuations.
A179 material is resistant to medium temperatures and has good thermal conductivity, making it a classic material for economizers. It is less expensive than stainless steel and suitable for medium- and low-temperature flue gas conditions.
Custom-designed economizer tube bundles, made of A179 material and featuring a uniquely shaped coil structure, are specifically designed to recover waste heat from flue gas and heat boiler feedwater. They are key components for improving efficiency in thermal power plants and industrial boilers.
| Chemical Composition |
| Element |
Composition (wt%) |
| Carbon (C) |
0.06 – 0.18 |
| Manganese (Mn) |
0.27 – 0.63 |
| Phosphorus (P) |
≤ 0.035 |
| Sulfur (S) |
≤ 0.035 |
| Silicon (Si) |
≤ 0.25 |
| Mechanical Properties |
| Property |
Requirement (min.) |
| Tensile Strength |
≥ 325 MPa (47 ksi) |
| Yield Strength (0.5% extension under load) |
≥ 180 MPa (26 ksi) |
| Elongation (in 2 in / 50 mm) |
≥ 35% |
| Hardness (Rockwell B) |
≤ 72 HRB |
Differences between standard U-shaped tubes
| Item |
U-Tube |
Serpentine Tube Bundle |
| Structure |
Symmetric U-bend, fixed to one tube sheet |
Continuous multi-bend/coiled, no common tube sheet |
| Application Scenario |
Shell-and-tube heat exchangers |
Boiler flue gas heating surfaces (economizer/superheater) |
| Key Benefit |
Thermal stress relief for shell-and-tube units |
Maximized heat transfer area & optimal flue duct fit |
Application:
- Boiler Economizers: For power plants and industrial boilers to recover flue gas waste heat.
- Heat Exchangers: Used in oil & gas, chemical, and food processing industries.
- Waste Heat Recovery Systems: Maximizing energy efficiency in industrial production lines.
