The finned tube heat exchanger used in air conditioners becomes corroded after long-term use. This affects the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger and reduces the energy efficiency of the entire air conditioning system. In this review

three main corrosion mechanisms of finned tube heat exchangers were introduced: ant-nest corrosion

pitting corrosion

and gap corrosion. The influence of corrosion on the performance of the finned tube heat exchanger was analyzed from three aspects: morphology

pressure drop

and heat transfer characteristics. The results show that the heat transfer coefficient and heat transfer of the finned tube heat exchanger decreased after corrosion. The air-side pressure drop was less affected (< 5 Pa). The research status of corrosion resistance of finned tube heat exchangers is summarized. It was found that research on improving the corrosion resistance of heat exchangers focused on the preparation of better corrosion-resistant coatings. Finally

future research directions for corrosion protection of refrigeration and air conditioning heat exchangers are summarized and discussed.