Copper and Aluminum Water Tanks for Diesel Generator Sets

The normal operation of a diesel generator set relies on the radiator of the cooling system. The radiator, commonly known as a water tank, is divided into two materials according to its construction: copper water tank and aluminum water tank. Users may have questions when choosing between these two different materials of water tanks. What is the difference between these two types of water tanks? Which type of water tank is more suitable for diesel generator sets? With questions in mind, this article from Dingbo Electric provides you with detailed answers.

Advantages of Copper Aluminum Water Tank:

Copper tube with water tank, fast heat conduction, good heat dissipation performance. You can directly use water instead of antifreeze;

Aluminum water tank is relatively cheaper in overall price compared to copper water tank, suitable for large-area radiators, and aluminum plate fin water tank has good reliability and durability.

Copper aluminum water tank price comparison:

Starting from raw materials, copper is much more expensive than aluminum, so copper water tanks are definitely more expensive than aluminum water tanks.

Copper aluminum water tank weight comparison:

The radiator is an important component of the diesel engine cooling system, and reducing the weight of the radiator can reduce the total mass of the engine cooling system unit. Aluminum material is much lighter than copper material.

Comparison of Durability and Reliability of Copper Aluminum Water Tanks:

Copper has better durability than aluminum because its oxide layer is denser and its corrosion resistance is higher than aluminum's. In slightly corrosive environments (such as natural water, weak acid and weak alkali solutions), aluminum will continue to rust until it is completely corroded, while copper's oxide layer has strong corrosion resistance, durability, and good performance.

Copper water tanks have relatively balanced corrosion resistance, strictly speaking, they are relatively resistant to acid and alkali, while aluminum water tanks are quite sensitive to alkaline corrosion. Usually, the pH value of the engine antifreeze we use is greater than 7, which means it is alkaline and requires the anti-corrosion agent inside to protect the aluminum products.

Comparison of Thermal Conductivity of Copper Aluminum Water Tanks:

Thermal conductivity: Aluminum 237, Copper 401. The heat dissipation rate of copper on a water tank wall with the same water temperature and air temperature difference, area, and thickness is 401/237=1.7 times that of aluminum. So copper water tanks have an advantage over aluminum water tanks in terms of heat dissipation efficiency.

Through the above comparison and introduction, I believe you have gained a more comprehensive understanding of the cooling water tanks made of different materials for diesel generator sets. Combining their respective advantages, characteristics, and price costs, currently diesel generator manufacturers mostly use aluminum water tanks, while some high-end diesel generator sets also use copper water tanks.

Dingbo Power was founded in 1974 and is one of the earliest manufacturers of generators and diesel generator sets in China. If you want get more information, please feel free to send email to sales@dieselgeneratortech.com we will pay highly attention on your question.