Advancing copper

One-shot brazing boosts heat exchangers CuproBraze® is an established technology for the production of copper alloy-based heat exchangers. With their high thermal conductivity, radiator cores made from copper and brass are claimed to reduce more heat per unit volume than any other material system. Apart from operational efficiency, the main advantage of CuproBraze products is stated to be their durability, especially at elevated temperatures. Strong joints are made by brazing at 650°C, while the use of special anneal-resistant copper alloys ensures that radiator cores retain their strength, even after exposure to high brazing or operating temperatures. The most recent development in this technology is one-shot brazing, whereby all the components of a heat exchanger are joined in one pass through a furnace, including fins to tubes, tubes to headers and the headers to the tank. This process saves both time and costs. Members of the CuproBraze Alliance (a consortium of...