Flat Tube Heat Exchangers for Room Air Conditioners

Heat exchangers using round copper tubes are the number-one choice for air conditioning systems, and the copper industry is working hard to keep it that way.

In the face of increasing competition from alternative materials, research currently is underway to improve the technical and economical competitiveness of copper tube technology.

Heat exchangers using flat tube technology can offer significant advantages over round tubes, including a 50% size reduction, reduced refrigerant charge and lower cost. The challenge for researchers is to develop a method of fabricating flat multi-port brass/copper tubes with support structures that are capable of operating at high refrigerant pressure.

Pressure-bearing flat copper/alloy tubes have been successfully prototyped and commercialization activities are underway to bring this new copper technology into use.