Heat exchanger having enhanced corrosion resistance

A method of heat transfer from a flue gas in an incineration plant to a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one heat exchanger component comprising an inner tube and a cladding on an external surface of the inner tube, the cladding being fully made from an aluminum alloy precursor material;
• leading the fluid through the at least one heat exchanger component, the fluid being in contact with an internal surface of the inner tube;
• leading the flue gas resulting from incineration of a waste in the incineration plant into an atmosphere around the at least one heat exchanger component, the flue gas being in contact with an external surface of the cladding, the flue gas having a predetermined temperature of the flue gas, a predetermined percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere and a predetermined partial pressure of the oxygen;
• generating a protective oxide layer surrounding the cladding during operation of the incineration plant upon oxidation of the external surface of the cladding by being exposed to the oxygen at the predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure, the protective oxide layer protecting the cladding from corrosive components of the flue gas, the protective oxide layer being a scale comprising alpha-Al2O3;
• continuously regenerating the protective oxide layer as the protective oxide layer is being worn by corrosion;
• and
• heating the fluid by the flue gas.