Section ECONOMY
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HALCOR SA
New Inner Grooved Tubes (IGT) thermal performance testing lab

The purpose of the lab is:
 

1. To measure/evaluate the different thermal performance rates of different IGT tubes with different geometry of internal groove.
2. To provide technical support to manufacturers of heat exchangers (air-conditioning units).
3. To research and develop IGT designs for tailor-made applications depending on the specific needs and specifications of each and every customer. 

Current or future possible new customers.

The installation of this platform begun in 2013 and was finished in 2014.

To provide customers with an as comprehensive range of services as possible and to make continuous improvements and developments in what it offers, HALCOR has set up a new innovative lab to test the thermal performance of Inner Grooved Tubes (IGTs). The thermal performance testing lab is being installed in HALCOR’s plant in Oinofita Viotia where inter grooved tubes TALOS and TALOS ACR tubes are produced, according with the international standards as well as the specific needs of customers. The thermal performance testing lab allows the heat transfer coefficient of tubes intended for heat exchangers to be measured. The heat transfer coefficient is measured for HFC cooling fluids (like R410A, R134A and others) in the condensation and evaporation phase. It is also possible to measure pressure drops due to friction. Moreover, the tube heat transfer laboratory gives HALCOR the capability to incorporate the tests results in a complete framework of technical support to manufacturers of heat-exchangers, with the purpose of optimizing their-exchanger design for any of the following:
 

- Improved efficiency.
- Higher capacity.
- Reduction of raw materials.
- Compact heat exchanger size.
- Reduction of refrigerant charge.
 

The purpose of the lab is:
 

1. To measure/evaluate the different thermal performance rates of different IGT tubes with different geometry of internal groove.
2. To provide technical support to manufacturers of heat exchangers (air-conditioning units).
3. To research and develop IGT designs for tailor-made applications depending on the specific needs and specifications of each and every customer.


This way, HALCOR will be able to: a) understand with accuracy the basic principles that govern the behavior of heat exchangers according with the geometry of the internal groove of tubes, b) to correlate the operating conditions of heat exchangers with the respective in the laboratory, c) to adapt the design of the internal groove of the tube, in a such way that the desired performance targets that every manufacturer sets to be met for the design of the heat exchanger.

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Employee's participation is limited to those who are assigned with the platform’s operation.

Oinofita Viotia – HALCOR’s copper tube plant

The installation of this platform begun in 2013 and was finished in 2014. Therefore, measurable results will be available during 2015.

Through this laboratory, HALCOR will now be able to:
 

1. Understand precisely the basic principles that govern the behavior of heat exchangers according with the different geometry of the internal grooved tubes.
2. Correlate operating conditions of heat exchangers with the respective laboratory.
3. To adapt the design of the internal groove of the tube, so as to achieve the desired performance objectives set by each manufacturer to heat exchanger design.
 

The benefits of having this facility are particularly important for HALCOR and its customers, given the new range of services that can now be offered. It is worth noting that thanks to this new lab the tests to be carried out will result in the energy performance of IGTs being optimised, which will also have particularly encouraging effects on the environment. Using tubes with a high energy rating results in an overall improvement in the energy rating of new heat exchangers, resulting in reduced energy consumption and therefore fewer pollutant gases being emitted to the atmosphere.