When you choose aluminium from Hydro, it's strong, light, durable and climate efficient, making you part of a smarter and more sustainable future. Our climate strategy is to cut our CO2 emissions 30% by 2030. Our aluminium can help you meet your goals, too.
Energy
Hydro has been at the forefront of the energy transition since 1905, transforming industries and societies with renewable energy. Today, we are pioneering the green aluminium transition through renewables and new energy solutions.
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About Hydro
Hydro is a leading aluminium and renewable energy company that builds businesses and partnerships for a more sustainable future. We have 32,000 employees in more than 140 locations and 40 countries.
Hydro supplies tubing for all-aluminium suction and liquid line sets for HVAC&R systems, engineered as a direct alternative to copper. Switching to aluminium lowers weight per metre and reduces exposure to copper price volatility environments.
Hydro's aluminium tubings are manufactured using alloys developed specifically for HVAC&R applications. For line set applications, Hydro has designed 9048 and 9159 alloys for high corrosion resistance precision drawn tubes. 3003 alloy is also available.
Weight and cost advantages
Aluminium is roughly a third the density of copper, with the adjustment of the wall thickness to meet the pressure requirement, the aluminium tubing is less than half the weight of copper tube for the same length providing a significant weight advantage and helping to reduce handling and transportation weight. The cost of a tube consists of both the material cost and the fabrication cost. While the fabrication cost of aluminium tube is higher per kilogram than the cost of fabricating copper tube, the fabrication cost per metre is lower due to the substantial difference in density. In addition, fluctuations in raw material prices have less impact on the manufacturing cost of aluminium heat exchangers than copper alternatives.
Hydro offers additional protection against corrosion and physical damage with a polyethylene (PE) or polyamide (PA) coating layer. Hydro's HYCOT™ coating technology applies a polyamide and/or polyethylene layer to the tube surface, providing enhanced protection against corrosion and physical attack. In line set applications, HYCOT™ tubing achieves the highest level of robustness on the market.
Standard dimensions and customised dimensions are available.
Size
Outer diameter
1/4"
6.36 mm
5/16"
7.94 mm
3/8"
9.52 mm
1/2"
12.70 mm
5/8"
15.87 mm
3/4"
19.05 mm
7/8"
22.23 mm
1"
25.4 mm
Custom
Available on request
Installing your aluminium line sets
Aluminium line sets differ from copper and must be installed with care. Hydro's installation guidelines highlight several important practices to ensure long-term performance:
Use tools dedicated to aluminium whenever possible. If tools have previously been used with copper, ensure they are thoroughly cleaned before use.
Use a mandrel for swaging aluminium tubes. Do not use an expander.
Protect connections between aluminium and dissimilar metals with a heat-shrink sleeve to help prevent galvanic corrosion.
Apply lower torque when tightening threaded connections, as aluminium is softer than copper.
Store aluminium separately from other metals and keep it dry to avoid contamination and corrosion risks.
Avoid exposure to conditions known to promote corrosion, including environments with a pH below 4 or above 8.5.
A line set is the pair of insulated copper or aluminium tubes - a suction line and a liquid line – that carry refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor units of an air-conditioning or refrigeration system. Hydro line sets tubing is available for all-aluminium suction and liquid lines for HVAC&R applications.
Aluminium offers a significant weight advantage compared with copper due to its lower density. Aluminium is also immune to formicary corrosion, and fluctuations in raw material prices have less impact on manufacturing costs than with copper-based alternatives.
No.
Yes. Aluminium-to-copper connections can be made using approved joining methods such as brazing, flare connections or mechanical connections such as INOAC Conic Joint or Lokring®. Connections between aluminium and copper should be protected with a heat-shrink sleeve to minimise the risk of galvanic corrosion. See our installation guidelines for details.
Standard outer diameters from 1/4″ (6.36 mm) to 1″ (25.4 mm), with custom dimensions available on request.
