Titanium plates for heat exchanger 2

[MaxNeg63]

My purchase dept. says it's experiencing rising difficulties in finding plates heat exchangers with Titanium plates due to reduced availability on the market of this metal. Therefore they've asked me to find a possible alternative. I've suggested Hastelloy that now is becoumng increasingly actractive even from the economic point of view. Is there anybody who know of other possible solutions easily available on the market (where talking about seawater vs. process water or vs. hydrocarbon heat exchangers) and/or of possible problems related with the use of Hastelloy plates? Thanks

 

[EdStainless]

Only if you are sensitive to Ni in your system. I can't think of any other drawback to a 'C' alloy.

If these are not too hot you might look at high alloy ferritic stainless. AL 29-4C and Sea-Cure both have a good track record fo seawater service.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion, every where, all the time.
Manage it or it will manage you.

http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm

 

[rmw]

EdStainless,

What is the Sea-Cure (or AL 29-4C) equivalent in a plate that can be formed in a plate press? I understood that it was the anneal during the tube welding process that gave Sea-Cure it's outstanding salt water corrosion resistant qualities. Can that anneal process be done in plate material that will allow stamping?

rmw

 

[EdStainless]

Both materials should be available as well (correctly) annealed sheet. You would need to make a point of requiring this when you purchase.
Both alloys are used in stamping/forming operations.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion, every where, all the time.
Manage it or it will manage you.

http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm

 

[rmw]

EdStainless,

Are the AL 29-4C and/or Sea-Cure registered product names for tubing products or for generic SS material products in whatever form.

If the former, what is the look up information for the (properly annealed) plate version.

And, last question, I would assume that utilization of such a critically annealed plate would not lend its use to a welded plate type application where the plates are joined at the edges for sealing purposes instead of gasketed as in the traditional PHE.

I have an application in mind that needs a plate with the bullet proof qualities of Sea-Cure et al, but that can't be gasketed. Currently 300 series plates are used, and chlorides are a problem.

rmw

 

[mthakur]

Normal delivery time for titanium is min 6 months, the other option for seawtaer application is AVESTA 254 SMO (Super austenite material) a proven and less expensive material for plates. You need to check an compare the rate of heat transfer. cheers

 

[MaxNeg63]

Thanks mthakur! Actually most PHE people I spoke with talked about 900 days of delivery!! If I'd like to get rid of my project manager I'd simply had to tell him that he cannot have his PHEs untill Christmas of 2008. Seriously now, it seems that the only possible solution is 254 SMO, I only have to revert to supplier with operating data to verify that such stell is actually fit for purpose; maybe something will have to be changed in terms of dimensions due to the different heat transfer rates.

 

[codeeng]

Try Alfa Laval for your P&F's. Titanium plates are more available now than they used to be. Certainly 900 days or even 6 months is way off.

 

[EdStainless]

If you need to weld then look to a 6% Mo superaustenitic stainless. There is a list, AL-6XN, 254SMo, 654SMo, 25-6MO, 1925hMo.
These alloys have good resistance to pitting/crevice in seawater. They can chloride stress crack at high temp.

Sea-Cure is now owned (the trademark) by Plymouth Tube. You can buy S44660 (the generic designation) from a couple of sources. The AL29-4C is an Alleghen Ludlum trademark for S44735. Both are provided for people that stamp and form heat exchangers in high eff home furnaces.
If you are requiring seal welds, and the plates are thin, it might work. There are many heat exchangers with seal welded tubes (tubes to tubesheets) in seawater service.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion, every where, all the time.
Manage it or it will manage you.

http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm