Industrial U-Bend Stainless Steel Tubes for Heat Exchangers
These U-bend stainless steel tubes are designed for shell-and-tube heat exchangers and condensers. They help absorb thermal expansion and prevent joint stress. Made from cold-drawn or welded tubes, each bend is formed using specialized internal tools to control wall thinning and ovality. All products follow ASTM A213, ASTM A249, and TEMA standards for chemical, power, and marine industries.
Product Types
Standard Radius U-Bends:
Centerline bend radius from 1.5D to 10D, built for standard heat exchanger bundles.
Tight Radius U-Bends:
Compact configurations designed for high-pressure systems with limited space.
Duplex & Special Alloy U-Bends:
Made from high-grade stainless steel and duplex alloys for harsh chemical media.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Outer Diameter (OD) | 12.7 mm to 50.8 mm (1/2 in to 2 in) |
| Wall Thickness | 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm |
| Minimum Bend Wall Thickness | Guaranteed at the outer bend |
| Straight Leg Length | Up to 12,000 mm before bending |
| Cut-to-Length | Custom lengths available |
| Bending Radius | 1.5 × OD to 1200 mm maximum radius |
| Leg Length Tolerance | ±1.5 mm |
| Center-to-Center Tolerance | ±1.5 mm |
| Squareness Deviation | <1.5 mm per meter |
Materials & Surface Finish
Material Grades:
Austenitic: TP304/304L, TP316/316L, TP321, 904L
Duplex: UNS S31803 (2205), UNS S32750 (2507)
Surface Condition:
Bright annealed finish from the mill
Pickled and passivated internal and external surfaces
Clean tube ends, fully deburred and free of sharp edges.
Performance Features
Controlled Wall Thinning:
Mandrel bending limits outer wall reduction within safe design limits, preventing pressure burst failures.
Low Residual Stress:
Controlled cold forming reduces metal hardening. Heat treatment is available to remove inner crystal stress.
Smooth Inner Bore:
Surface roughness (Ra ≤ 0.8 μm) reduces fluid friction and stops dirt buildup or scaling.
Uniform Heat Transfer:
Even wall thickness keeps heat transfer rates stable across the whole tube bundle.
Non-Destructive Testing:
100% hydro-testing or air pressure testing on straight tubes before bending.
Eddy Current Testing per ASTM E426 on all straight lengths.
Dye penetrant test on bend areas upon request.
Bending Process:
CNC rotary draw bending with internal tools prevents tube flattening, wrinkling, or collapse.
Dimensional Check:
Optical testing and CMM measurement for bend radius and leg squareness.
Cleanliness:
Ultrasonic cleaning and air blow-drying remove oil and metal debris before wood crate packing.
Custom Tube Manufacturing
Drawing Review:
Our engineers check your CAD or PDF bundle layouts to verify bend limits and fit.
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Special Dies:
Custom tools are used for non-standard radii or thin walls to prevent shape distortion.
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End Finishing:
Cut square, deburred, bevelled, or plugged with plastic caps to stop transit damage.
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Test Reports:
Mill Test Certificates (MTC) provided per EN 10204 3.1, showing chemical makeup, strength tests, and hardness results.
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Certifications
FAQ
As one of the most professional u-bend stainless steel tube manufacturers and suppliers in China, we're featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale OEM u-bend stainless steel tube from our factory. Also, custom service is available.
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