ASME SA179 A179 Carbon Steel Seamless Tube Heat Exchangers For Oil Refineries, Condensers For Chemical Plants, Power Plants
The ASME SA179 / ASTM A179 seamless tube is a globally recognized standard for cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes, specifically designed for use in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat transfer equipment. It is one of the most widely specified materials in the power generation, petrochemical, HVAC, and marine industries due to its excellent thermal conductivity, good formability, and reliable mechanical properties.
Typical applications include heat exchanger tubes, condenser tubes, oil coolers, intercoolers, and feedwater heaters. The material’s excellent thermal conductivity (approximately 51.9 W/m·K) is about 40% higher than that of austenitic stainless steels, making it highly efficient for heat transfer. Additionally, SA179 tubes can be readily welded, bent, and flared, simplifying fabrication and reducing overall project costs.
| 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 |
Application:
- Power Industry: Power plant condensers, low-pressure feedwater heaters, coolers
- Petrochemical Industry: Refinery heat exchangers, chemical plant condensers, gas coolers
- HVAC: Refrigeration unit evaporators, condensers, cooling coils
- Shipbuilding: Marine heat exchangers, diesel engine coolers, seawater cooling systems
- General Industry: Air compressor aftercoolers, hydraulic oil coolers, process air coolers
