Pipeline components for thermal management and vacuum circuits. Deliver coolant, refrigerant and vacuum medium for fluid transmission and pressure conduction.
Automotive aluminum tubes, rubber hoses and vacuum hoses are fundamental fluid transmission components of vehicle thermal management, braking and HVAC systems. They undertake the transmission of coolant, refrigerant and vacuum medium, supporting the normal operation of vehicle power system, thermal management system and brake booster system. With the upgrading of new energy vehicle technology, the requirements for pipeline pressure resistance, temperature resistance, aging resistance and structural stability have been further improved, making high-precision pipeline manufacturing a key link in vehicle reliability optimization.
Top 10 Global Brands
Continental, TI Fluid Systems, Parker Hannifin, Gates, Sumitomo Riko, Cooper Standard, Hutchinson, Yokohama Rubber, Mahle, Valeo. These international first-tier suppliers have mature pipeline R&D and manufacturing systems, providing high-reliability fluid pipeline solutions for global mainstream vehicle OEMs, covering traditional fuel vehicles, hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicle platforms.
Top 10 Chinese Brands
Sanxiang Technology, Pengling Group, Chuanhuan Technology, Lide Dongfang, Meichen Industry, Junhe Technology, Litong Technology, Qingda Xiangliu, Hengyu Technology, Bochun Pipeline. Domestic pipeline manufacturers have achieved large-scale supporting for domestic independent brands and joint-venture models, with continuous breakthroughs in high-pressure and high-temperature resistant pipeline technology, gradually realizing import substitution.
Structural Composition
The three types of pipeline components have independent structural systems. The aluminum alloy tube is made of precision extruded aluminum profile, equipped with anti-corrosion coating, metal connecting joints and fixed clamps, featuring high rigidity and stable size. The rubber hose adopts multi-layer composite structure, including medium-resistant inner rubber layer, high-strength braided reinforcement layer, wear-resistant outer rubber layer and crimped metal joints, which can adapt to vehicle vibration and displacement deformation. The vacuum hose is a special negative-pressure resistant rubber pipeline, built with anti-collapse skeleton structure to ensure stable cavity under negative pressure working conditions. All pipelines are matched with sealing rings, damping sleeves and fixed brackets to form a complete vehicle fluid circuit.
Application
These pipeline components serve thermal management and vacuum circuits. Aluminum alloy hard tubes are applied to fixed laying paths for high-pressure transmission of coolant and refrigerant, maintaining stable pipeline layout. Rubber hoses are used for dynamic connection positions of vehicle body vibration and displacement to avoid pipeline fracture caused by rigid collision. Vacuum hoses are specially used for vacuum medium transmission of brake booster system to realize pressure conduction. The products are widely used in ICE vehicles, HEVs and BEVs to ensure the normal circulation of fluid medium and stable output of brake vacuum.
Manufacturing Challenges
The manufacturing difficulties vary according to product types. For aluminum tubes, it is necessary to strictly control extrusion precision, wall thickness uniformity and anodic oxidation anti-corrosion consistency to prevent high-pressure leakage and corrosion failure. For rubber hoses, the core difficulty lies in rubber formula optimization, which needs to resist high and low temperature aging, refrigerant corrosion and long-term vibration fatigue. The lamination precision of multi-layer braided layers is required to avoid delamination and cracking. For vacuum hoses, structural design must prevent suction collapse and deformation under negative pressure, and ensure excellent elastic recovery. In addition, all pipelines need to adapt to complex vehicle layout, with strict dimensional tolerance control and long-term environmental durability verification.
Required Quality Documents
IATF16949 quality system certification, APQP development documents, DFMEA and PFMEA analysis reports, production control plan, full set of PPAP submission files, material inspection certificates, medium resistance and anti-corrosion performance test reports, burst pressure and negative pressure durability test reports, vehicle vibration and impact verification reports, IMDS material data registration documents and RoHS compliance certificates.
Impact on Vehicle Performance
The pipeline system is the basic guarantee for vehicle fluid circulation and functional realization. Deformation and leakage of aluminum tubes will cause loss of coolant and refrigerant, leading to overheating of engine, motor and battery system. Aging and cracking of rubber hoses will cause failure of thermal management circuit and attenuation of air conditioning refrigeration performance. Air leakage and collapse of vacuum hoses will directly lead to insufficient brake vacuum, weaken brake assist effect, increase braking distance and bring potential safety hazards. The sealing performance, structural stability and durability of pipelines directly determine vehicle thermal management efficiency, riding comfort and driving safety.