A fin does not have to be a flat strip. Wind a continuous loop of wire around the tube instead and solder or braze it down, and the result behaves differently in two useful ways: air threads between round wires with less pressure drop than it fights past flat fins, and the loops give an enormous edge area for their weight. USA Piping Solution supplies wire wound fin tubes on copper and steel base tube for compact coils, dryers, and heaters where fan power is the constraint. The rest of the fin family is mapped on our Finned Tubes page.
Why Round Wire Beats Flat Strip, Sometimes
- Lower pressure drop: air flows around round wires instead of being channeled between flat plates, so a wire-wound coil of equal duty can run a smaller, quieter fan.
- Edge-dominated transfer: heat transfer coefficients are highest at edges and stagnation points, and a wire fin is nearly all edge.
- Metallurgical bond: soldering or brazing the loops to the tube gives full thermal contact, no tension joint to relax.
- The trade-off: less total surface per metre than tall flat fins, so wire wound suits compact, moderate-duty coils rather than large process banks.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Tube | Copper standard (best bond and conductivity); carbon steel available |
| Wire | Copper or copper-alloy wire loops, soldered or brazed to the tube |
| Base Tube OD | Typically 9.5 – 25 mm coil sizes |
| Service | Set by the bond alloy; confirm operating temperature with your inquiry |
Applications
- Dryer & Textile Machine Coils: compact air-heating elements inside machinery.
- Unit Heaters & Convectors: quiet, low-static heating elements.
- Refrigeration & Dehumidifier Coils: compact evaporator and reheat elements.
- Electronic & Instrument Cooling: small liquid-to-air coolers where fan noise and size are constrained.
Copper base tube detail is on the Copper Finned Tubes page.
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Testing, Certification & Availability
Base tube ships certified; bond integrity and loop spacing are inspected on the wound product; our Quality Policy page covers the program. Send tube size, coil dimensions, and duty for availability.
Related Products
- Finned Tubes (all types)
- Copper Finned Tubes
- Crimped & Spiral Crimped Finned Tubes
- Heat Exchanger Tubes & Pipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does wire wound fin clearly beat flat-fin constructions?
Compact coils where fan power, noise, or coil depth is the binding constraint. The low pressure drop per unit of heat transferred is the whole case; for large process duties needing maximum surface per metre, tall flat fins win.
Is the wire bonded or just wound tight?
Bonded. The loops are soldered or brazed to the tube, giving metallurgical thermal contact rather than a tension joint, which is why the construction holds its performance over years of cycling.
Can wire wound tubes be supplied on steel instead of copper?
Yes, carbon steel base tube is available where the fluid side requires it; copper remains standard for the bond quality and conductivity.