Q&A: What You Need to Know about Mesabi® Grommeted Removable Copper Tube Radiators
Mesabi® heat exchangers by L&M Radiator have driven success for the mining and oil and gas industries across the world for more than 65 years. To this day, Mesabi radiators are the industry standard. Many have tried to imitate Mesabi radiators, but none have come close to their reliability, durability, and ease of maintenance.
Why copper tubes instead of another metal?
L&M Radiator makes radiators in copper, aluminum and brass. Copper has strengths in certain areas that better position it for use in radiator applications. For example, while aluminum is less expensive and offers weight savings, copper is stronger and will generally perform better than aluminum in a direct side-by-side comparison. When customers are concerned about weight and cost, they may opt for aluminum instead. Brass is really only used where equipment is used in or near saltwater or other corrosive environments.
What makes L&M Radiator’s Mesabi® replaceable grommeted copper tube radiators a superior product?
Mesabi removable copper tube radiators are more robust than conventional coolers, which are typically made of much thinner material, and our solder joints are high quality. We hear a lot about copycats or competitors that are experiencing numerous failures in the field. It is unfortunate because so much time and money is wasted when using a copycat or counterfeit radiator. If they had just come to us in the first place, they would be money ahead – every time.
What styles of Mesabi® coolers use copper tubes?
Copper tubes can be used on any style of Mesabi grommeted removable copper tube radiator – from V-Tube, M-Tube, L-Tube, and heavy-wall coolers, to air-to-air, air-to-oil, and air-to-water exchangers.
Every style of tube has its purpose. The different shapes and patterns have proven to be successful over the years to best fit specific applications — and they can all be made using copper.
How durable are L&M Mesabi® copper tube radiators?
If properly maintained, Mesabi replaceable copper tube radiators will outlast multiple engine lives of the heavy-duty equipment on which they’ve been installed.
“A huge advantage of copper is that coolant maintenance isn’t as critical,” said Kerry Hecimovich, Design and Application Engineering Manager at L&M Radiator. “Our copper tubes can handle a larger variance in coolant PH levels. So, if an operation (mine or oil and gas site) is not maintaining the correct PH levels in the coolant, aluminum can be affected more dramatically than copper. We always refer customers to specific engine manufacturer recommendations for coolant use.”
Is copper tubing compatible with coolants?
Copper is compatible with most diesel-engine coolants.
“A huge advantage of copper is that coolant maintenance isn’t as critical,” said Hecimovich. “Our copper tubes can handle a larger variance in coolant PH levels. So, if an operation (mine or oil and gas site) is not maintaining the correct PH levels in the coolant, aluminum can be affected more dramatically than copper.”
What’s the advantage of using grommets in the design of Mesabi radiators?
Each end of a Mesabi replaceable copper tube is inserted in grommets that are installed into the radiator tanks. The advantage of using grommets is that they absorb thermal expansion, shock and vibration.
When do I NOT want copper tubes?
While copper as a material is incredibly durable, L&M Radiator engineers would not recommend copper tubes for applications where weight is a high priority. Similarly, for especially corrosive environments, such as saltwater environments, L&M Radiator engineers would recommend using removable grommeted brass radiator tubes over copper.
Explore Mesabi® Removeable Copper Tube Radiators
Known across the globe as the provider of the industry’s best heat exchangers for mining and oil and gas applications, the L&M Radiator legacy all started with one powerhouse of a heat exchanger: the original copper tube radiator. Designed to withstand the most extreme conditions on Planet Earth, you’ll find Mesabi® copper tube radiators and coolers on every large mining site across the world.
L&M Radiator, Inc. is The leader in Removalable Copper Grommeted Tube Radiators. Mesabi®