Global InformationCuproBraze information
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CuproBraze is a copper-alloy heat exchanger technology for high-temperature and pressure environments such as those in modern diesel engines.[1][2] The technology, developed by the International Copper Association (ICA), is licensed for free to heat exchanger manufacturers around the world.[citation needed]
Applications for CuproBraze include charge air coolers, radiators, oil coolers, climate control systems, and heat transfer cores.[3][2] CuproBraze is suited for charge air coolers and radiators in heavy industry where machinery must operate for long periods of time under harsh conditions without failures. The technology is intended for off-road vehicles, trucks, buses, industrial engines, generators, locomotives, and military equipment. It is also used for light trucks, SUVs and passenger cars with special needs.[4][3][5][6]
Compared with previous heat exchanger models CuproBraze creates new materials for heat exchanger parts that have previously been made of soldered copper/brass plate fin, soldered copper brass serpentine fin, and brazed aluminum serpentine fin to suit more demanding applications.[2] Aluminum heat exchangers are viable and economical for cars, light trucks, and other light-duty applications. However, they are not amenable for environments characterized by high operating temperatures, humidity, vibration, salty corrosive air, and air pollution. In these environments, the additional tensile strength, durability, and corrosion resistance that CuproBraze technology provides are useful.[2]
The CuproBraze technology uses brazing instead of soldering to join copper and brass radiator components. The heat exchangers are made with anneal-resistant copper and brass alloys. The tubes are fabricated from brass strip and coated with a brazing filler material in form of a powder-based paste or an amorphous brazing foil is laid between the tube and fin. There is another method of coating the tube in-line on the tube mill. This is done using the twin wire-arc spray process where the wire is the braze alloy, deposited on the tube as it is being manufactured at 200-400 fpm. This saves one process step of coating the tube later. The coated tubes, along with copper fins, headers and side supports made of brass, are fitted together into a core assembly which is brazed in a furnace.[7]
The technology enables brazed serpentine fins to be used in copper-brass heat exchanger designs. The benefits include tougher joints.[2][citation needed]
- ^ Vehicle radiators: Can CuproBraze turn copper into a bona fide contender?; American Metal Market September 2008; http://dl.dropbox.com/u/46572847/Perspectives-radiators.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e Partanen, Juho (2011). Hot property: Heat exchangers that optimize product reliability, decrease lifecycle costs and improve profitability are just the ticket for increasing the lifespan and performance of off-highway machinery; Industrial Vehicle Technology; March 2011; http://viewer.zmags.com/services/DownloadPDF[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Duensing, Lauren (2006) Develop efficient heat-transfer systems, Modern Metals, March 2006. [1]
- ^ Asia Hot on New Cooling Technology: Cooling Systems: New engine requirements mean manufacturers are changing to copper and brass for cooling systems; Automotive Engineering International, February 2005
- ^ CuproBraze: Advanced heat-exchanger technology [2]
- ^ "With special needs" makes passenger cars sound like they're children or people.
- ^ Cuprobraze overview: "CuproBraze : Overview : CuproBraze Technology". Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2012-11-26.