Aluminium Tubing for Oxygen Concentrators
Oxygen concentrators separate oxygen from air in columns packed with molecular sieve, and most of those columns, product tanks and coolers are made from aluminium tube. This guide explains which parts use aluminium, the alloys and tempers that suit each one, and how to specify tube for medical and industrial PSA equipment. Metline supplies the tube, cut and finished to drawing, to equipment makers worldwide; it does not make concentrators.
- Main alloys
- 6063, 6061, 5052, 3003
- Key parts
- Sieve beds, product tank, cooler
- Finish
- Anodised or mill, oxygen-clean
- Device standard
- ISO 80601-2-69
How an oxygen concentrator uses aluminium tube
Most concentrators use pressure swing adsorption (PSA). A compressor pushes filtered air into one of two columns, or sieve beds, filled with zeolite that adsorbs nitrogen under pressure. Oxygen-rich gas passes through to a product tank. Meanwhile the second bed is vented, releasing its nitrogen, and the two beds swap roles every few seconds.
Each sieve bed is a pressurised cylinder that must be light, leak-tight, dimensionally accurate so the end caps seal, and clean inside so that no oil or particles contaminate the sieve or the oxygen stream. Extruded aluminium tube meets all of these needs. It is a third of the weight of steel, does not rust inside the bed, machines easily for O-ring grooves and end-cap fits, and can be anodised.
Aluminium also appears in the product (oxygen) tank, the aftercooler or heat exchanger that cools compressed air before it reaches the sieve, internal manifolds, and the cabinet frame of portable units. Industrial PSA generators use the same principle at larger scale with welded or flanged aluminium vessels.
Which alloy for which part
| Part | Typical alloys and tempers | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sieve bed column (home and portable) | 6063-T5 / T6, 6061-T6 | Precise extruded tube, good anodising, adequate strength for low-pressure cycling |
| Twin or integrated sieve-bed extrusions | 6063-T6 | Multi-cavity extruded profile combining two beds and passages in one section |
| Product (oxygen) tank | 6061-T6, 6063-T6 | Strength for repeated pressure cycles with light weight |
| Industrial PSA vessels | 5052, 5083, 6061-T6 | Weldable plate and large-diameter tube for vessels designed to pressure codes |
| Aftercooler / heat exchanger tube | 3003, 1xxx | High thermal conductivity, easy bending and brazing |
| End caps and manifolds | 6061-T6 bar or 6082-T6 | Machined from bar with ports and O-ring grooves |
| Portable unit frames | 6063-T5 profiles, 5052 sheet | Light, formable and easy to finish |
Pressure parts must be designed by the equipment maker to the applicable code using the minimum mechanical properties of the alloy and temper, not typical values.
Tube sizes and tolerances
Supply range
- Outside diameter
- About 12 – 500 mm, from small cooler tube to large industrial columns
- Wall thickness
- About 2 – 50 mm depending on diameter and pressure
- Length
- Mill lengths to about 6 m, or cut precisely to column length
- Shapes
- Round tube; twin-bore and multi-cavity extrusions to drawing
- Standards
- ASTM B221, B241, B210; EN 755-2, EN 754-2
- Processing
- Precision cutting, chamfering, internal deburring, bending, machining of ends
Sieve-bed tubes are usually ordered with tight tolerances on outside diameter, inside diameter and ovality at the ends, where end caps and O-rings seal, and with square, burr-free cut ends. Drawn tube or machined ends can be used where extruded tolerances are not close enough.
Cleanliness, anodising and oxygen compatibility
Concentrated oxygen makes contaminants such as oil, grease and fine particles much easier to ignite, and residues can also poison the zeolite. Tubes for oxygen equipment are therefore cleaned and protected before assembly.
- Cleaning: degreasing and cleaning to the maker's oxygen-cleaning procedure, often based on ASTM G93 or ISO 15001 practice, with ends capped after cleaning.
- Anodising: clear or coloured anodising protects the outer surface and gives a clean, durable appearance on visible columns.
- Inside surface: smooth, free of loose particles and extrusion residue; internal deburring at cut ends.
- Packing: sealed, capped and bagged tubes so that clean surfaces stay clean in transit.
Concentrators themselves are medical devices that must meet ISO 80601-2-69 and the regulations of each market. The tube supplier provides material certificates and traceability that support the device maker's quality system.
How to order oxygen concentrator tube
- Send the drawingTube or profile drawing with tolerances, length and end details.
- Confirm alloy and finishFor example 6063-T6 anodised, or 6061-T6 mill finish for product tanks.
- State cleaning and packingOxygen-cleaning requirement, capping and packing method.
- DocumentsEN 10204 3.1 mill certificate and dimensional report for each lot.
- DeliveryShipped worldwide on EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms in protective packing.
References and standards
- ISO 80601-2-69 – Medical electrical equipment: particular requirements for oxygen concentrator equipment
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles and Tubes
- ASTM G93 – Guide for Cleanliness Levels and Cleaning Methods for Materials and Equipment Used in Oxygen-Enriched Environments
- ISO 15001 – Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment: compatibility with oxygen
Aluminium tube for oxygen concentrators: frequently asked questions
Why are oxygen concentrator sieve beds made of aluminium?
Aluminium tube is light, does not rust inside the bed, machines easily for end-cap seals, can be anodised and is compatible with oxygen when clean. Extrusion also allows twin-bed and multi-cavity sections.
Which aluminium alloy is used for sieve bed tubes?
6063-T5 or T6 is the most common, with 6061-T6 used where higher strength is needed. Industrial PSA vessels often use 5052, 5083 or 6061 plate and tube.
Do concentrator tubes need special cleaning?
Yes. Oil, grease and particles must be removed because they can ignite in concentrated oxygen and contaminate the sieve. Tubes are cleaned to the maker's oxygen-cleaning procedure, capped and bagged.
Can you supply tubes cut to length and anodised?
Yes. Tubes can be cut to column length, deburred, end-machined and anodised, then packed ready for assembly.
Do you supply complete oxygen concentrators?
No. Metline supplies aluminium tube, profiles, bar and sheet to concentrator manufacturers; the device is designed, assembled and certified by the manufacturer.
Building oxygen concentrators or PSA generators?
Send your tube drawings, alloy, finish and volumes. We will reply with supply options and a delivered price.
