This section provides an overview for capillary tubes as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 capillary tube manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked capillary tube companies as of November, 2024: 1.Sutter Instrument, 2.Orbray Co., Ltd., 3.Aesteiron Steels LLP,.
Table of Contents
Capillary tubes are thin tubes with an inner diameter of 0.6 to 2 mm.
Capillary tubes for refrigeration cycles used in air conditioners and refrigerators are thin tubes made of copper or steel that control the flow of refrigerant. As the refrigerant passes through the narrow passage, the pressure drops due to flow resistance, a function known as throttling expansion. This drop in refrigerant pressure causes the refrigerant to evaporate and absorb heat from its surroundings.
A similar function is performed by an expansion valve. Expansion valves are more controllable, but they are more expensive. High-precision glass capillary tubes, called capillary tubes, are used for X-ray diffraction and research.
Capillary tubes are mainly used as cooling devices in small refrigerators, room air conditioners, and electric refrigerators. They are also useful in gas appliances, oil fan heaters, fire alarms, and terminal equipment. They are mainly used in small refrigeration cycles with relatively stable operating conditions.
In the same air conditioner, expansion valves are used in car air conditioners for automobiles because of their wide range of operating conditions. This is because it is difficult for capillary tubes to perform under a wide range of conditions, with outside air temperatures ranging from low to high, and engine-driven compressors from low to high speed.
Refrigeration cycles for air conditioners and refrigerators consist of a compressor, condenser, evaporator, receiver, and expansion mechanism. Expansion valves and capillary tubes are used in the expansion mechanism.
When refrigerant gas is compressed in the compressor and cooled in the condenser, it becomes a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The condenser is located in the outdoor unit in air conditioners and in the cabinet in refrigerators. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant is then depressurized by the expansion valve and capillary tubes and enters the evaporator. The evaporator is located in the indoor unit in air conditioners and in the cabinet cooler in refrigerators.
Meanwhile, as the compressor draws refrigerant from the evaporator, the pressure in the evaporator is reduced to a low pressure, and the liquid refrigerant evaporates to become gas. The evaporator is a heat exchanger between the refrigerant and the air, and the heat of evaporation of the refrigerant cools the air. Expansion valves and capillary tubes control the pressure and refrigerant flow rate in the evaporator through the throttling effect, thereby adjusting the cooling capacity.
Capillary tubes are available in many types of fineness and length. Capillary tubes may be connected using copper flare tubes or by brazing. When using copper flared capillary tubing, select the type with nuts on both ends, which already have nuts on both ends of the capillary tubes.
Straight capillary tubing is used in simple refrigeration systems where the inner diameter is constant and the refrigerant flow is steady.
Coiled capillary tubes are spiral wound and are used when space is tight.
Multi-port capillary tubes have multiple ports along their length and are used in systems with multiple evaporators or compressors.
Low-profile capillary tubes are very thin and are used when space is limited.
Capillary tubes have an insulating layer on the outside to help maintain the temperature of the refrigerant as it flows through the tube.
When selecting capillary tubes, there are several considerations for optimal performance and efficiency
Capillary tubes should be sized for the refrigerant to be used.
Capillary tubes should be sized to handle the required refrigerant flow rate of the refrigeration system.
Capillary tubes should be sized to handle the working pressure of the refrigeration system.
Capillary tubes should be sized so that the superheat value of the refrigerant at the evaporator outlet is appropriate. Superheat is the difference between the saturation temperature, which corresponds to the refrigerant pressure, and the actual refrigerant gas temperature.
If the superheat at the evaporator outlet is small, there is sufficient evaporation in the evaporator, but if some of the liquid refrigerant is sucked into the compressor, it can cause compressor failure. If the superheat is too large, the evaporation function in the evaporator is inadequate, resulting in insufficient performance.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Sutter Instrument, established in 1974, is a manufacturer of amplifier systems, microscopes, stages and translators, perfusion systems, and bundled systems. Micromanufacturing, air tables and equipment racks, glass and filament, microinjections, and OEM items are also manufactured. The products are used in the medical, pharmaceutical, R&D, power supply, and imaging industries. The company in One Digital Drive, Novato, CA, has capabilities such as state-of-the-art CNC machining and turning centers for producing precise mechanical components. Sutter became partially employee-held in 2007 with the introduction of an ESOP.
Orbray was originally founded in 1939 in Japan. Orbray serves the automotive, medical, fashion, information communication, audio, and robotics industries. Orbray develops a variety of products including small motors, fiber optics components, and precision jewelry tools. Applications for Orbray’s products include small robots, diaphragm pumps, inner wall metrology systems, and semiconductors.
Citizen Metals Pvt Ltd, established in 1981 in Gujarat, India, is a manufacturer of steel products like carbon steel tubes, fasteners, flanges, nickel alloy, and welded stainless steel that is used by countries like Russia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Europe. It makes hex head screws, shoulder bolts, flange nuts, anchor bolts, and machine screws that cater to these industries: construction and structure binding, automobile, water desalination, marine engineering, and petrochemical. The company has received ISO 14001:2004, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 9001:2008, and ISO 45001 certifications.
Trilok Steel is a seamless steel tube manufacturer and welded steel pipe supplier in Mumbai, India, established in 1993. The company offers SS polished pipes in different finishes, including 180 Grit, 320 Grit, and 600 Grit. It also provides a wide range of steel and non-ferrous metals such as pipes, plates, sheets, coils, bars, as well as other industrial pipe fittings. Its products conform to national and international standards like ASME, ANSI, ASTM, API, and MSS. It is an ISO 9001-certified company providing 24/7 support to 500 clients worldwide, serving multiple industries, including construction, infrastructure, transportation, and manufacturing.
Shanghai Metal Corporation, established in 1980 as a state-owned Shanghai Metal Materials Company headquartered in Shanghai, China, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in metal materials and products. The company's metal offerings include aluminum, copper, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and steel products. It also provides metal machines for forming, cutting, bending, and processing. Additionally, the company offers various containers, gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, mechanical products, and electrical systems. These products find applications in various industries, such as automobile, construction and decoration, electrical and transformer components, machinery, and packaging. Other applications include oil, gas, and water pipelines, as well as boilers and tanks.
Wellste is a Chinese manufacturer of custom extruded aluminum products that was established in 1996. Based in Jingkou, Zhenjiang, the company produces a wide range of non-standard extruded aluminum products including pipes and tubes, T-slot systems, window or door profiles, and heat sinks. It has an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons and uses pure aluminum ingot for its products. Wellste also offers design, engineering, and OEM/ODM services to its clients in the renewable energy, architectural, electronics, and automotive sectors.
Aesteiron Steels LLP (ASL) is an Indian manufacturer and supplier of seamless tubing and welded steel pipes that was established in Mumbai in 2007. The company primarily produces various steel pipes in various grades, including carbon, alloy, and stainless steel models, as well as aluminum and copper pipes with higher conductivity. They also offer custom fabrication of alloy pipes using different elements such as chromium or molybdenum, or with specifications for higher oxidation or corrosion resistance. ASL chiefly serves clients in the power generation, petrochemical processing, water treatment, construction, and infrastructure sectors.
Oshwin Overseas, established in 1999, is a manufacturer and supplier based in Mumbai, India, specializing in high nickel alloy and stainless steel products. The company produces stainless steel seamless pipes and tubes that increase durability due to the absence of weak points, reduce the risk of corrosion, and allow more efficient flows due to smoother internal surfaces. Other products include instrument fittings, instrumentation valves, buttweld fittings, and flanges. These products are utilized in diverse industries such as medical, structural engineering, oil and gas, marine, and aerospace. Oshwin Overseas holds ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.
DWK Life Sciences Gmbh, founded in 1887, is a German multinational manufacturer and supplier, based in Wertheim, Baden-Württemberg, specializing in glass and plastic primary packaging. The company produces container closure systems (CCSs), tailored for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic, and personal care applications. These include laboratory bottles, equipment and tools, as well as chemistry and volumetric glassware. The company also offers measuring tools, along with other products such as beakers and flasks, caps and closures, containers and vessels, funnels and tubes, as well as microplates and vials. These products find applications across various research domains, such as analytical sciences, cell culture, and organic chemistry.
Civmats Co., Limited, established in 1989 and headquartered in Changzhou, China, is a manufacturer and exporter of stainless steel materials. The company offers a wide range of stainless steel materials, including pipes, sheets, coils, and more. It also offers bars, fittings, and wire products. Its products are resistant to corrosion and can handle extreme temperatures, making them ideal for use in harsh environments. The company has achieved ISO 9001:2015 and PED 2014/68/EU certifications. Its products are exported to America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd., established in 1941 and located in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of decanter type centrifugal separators. The company offers a range of products, including gravity belt thickeners, HED-type dewatering centrifuges, disc-type centrifuges, rotary snails, and ASM tubular centrifuges, which cater to pharmaceuticals, food, chemistry, ships, electric power, and water treatment. The products are used in sludge dewatering, oil-water separation, clarification processes, liquid-liquid separation, and solids removal. The company’s expertise extends across diverse sectors, such as oil and gas and power generation.
JIAXING MT STAINLESS STEEL CO., LTD., established in 2006 in Zhejiang, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial piping systems such as seamless pipes, seamless tubes, pipe fittings, steel wire, and control lines. Its product catalog includes stainless steel seamless pipes, duplex steel welded pipes, bright annealed polished tubes, casting pipe fittings, and welded neck flanges. The company also offers oilfield services such as bare tubing, optical cable fixing, and encapsulated tubing. It has been awarded TUV ISO 9001 and Euro Annex certificates.
Nycoil, founded in 1958 and based in Randleman, NC, USA, is a renowned manufacturer and supplier of premier fluid power and pneumatic products. The company's product range includes Nycoil tubing, tube fittings, nylon and polyurethane hoses, couplers, and blow guns. These products are used in the fluid power and pneumatic markets, enhancing durability, lightweight features, and ease of installation. The company serves various industries, emphasizing fluid power, pneumatics, machinery, and industrial equipment. Its services include offerings such as tubing accessories, hose accessories, blow gun accessories, and technical information.
Guru Gautam Steels, established in 1984, is headquartered in Maharashtra, India, and operates as a supplier of various industrial materials, including steel pipes, round bars, sheets and plates, fittings, flanges, and other products. The company specializes in providing a wide range of seamless and ERW pipes, encompassing different grades, forms, and sizes, which adhere to universally recognized standards at the national and international levels. The corporation ensures the preservation of mutual commercial interests among its stakeholders, thereby facilitating the production or sourcing of the appropriate product and its timely delivery at competitive prices.
PHOTONIS, a well-reputed French company founded in 1937, specializes in manufacturing electro-optic components and detectors. They offer a wide range of products, including photomultiplier tubes, image intensifiers, and microchannel plates. PHOTONIS serves various industries, such as scientific research, defence, medical, and industrial applications. Their products are used in applications like night view, mass spectral analysis, and space exploration. PHOTONIS is present internationally with offices and distributors in different countries. Devoted to excellence and environmental responsibility with various certifications, ensuring reliability and safety for customers.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Sutter Instrument |
18.3%
|
2 | Orbray Co., Ltd. |
16.7%
|
3 | Aesteiron Steels LLP, |
15.0%
|
4 | Shanghai Metal Corporation |
11.7%
|
5 | Citizen Metals Pvt Ltd. |
10.0%
|
6 | Trilok Steel |
8.3%
|
7 | Nycoil |
5.0%
|
8 | CIVMATS CO., LIMITED |
3.3%
|
9 | Wellste |
3.3%
|
10 | Oshwin Overseas |
3.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the capillary tube page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
India | 7 | 53.8% |
China | 3 | 23.1% |
Japan | 2 | 15.4% |
United States of America | 1 | 7.7% |