Thin-Wall Titanium Condenser Tubing: The Next Plateau

Commercially pure (cp.) titanium and its alloys provide excellent resistance to general and localized corrosion attack under most oxidizing, neutral and inhibited reducing conditions in aqueous environments. Titanium is also notable for its outstanding resistance to chlorides and other halides generally present in most process streams. In addition, titanium resists other malicious phenomenon including steam and particle erosion, crevice corrosion, galvanic attack and MIC. Given this general corrosion immunity, designers have increasingly applied thin-wall condenser tubing in pursuit of cost savings and performance enhancement. Typically, these thin-wall applications have, over the past several years, been limited to 25 BWG or 0.020”/0.5mm walls or heavier. The “industry” has, out of necessity, moved to address the special nuances of the 25 BWG including design, procurement, handling, fabrication and testing parameters with increasing success. It would appear however, that designers, operators and pundits alike require further education and refinement on the specific operational characteristics when integrated into the powerplant environment. Considerable work has been recently completed investigating even thinner wall titanium tubing. This paper will address the essential data elements of this expanded research focusing specifically on Grade 2 titanium in 27 BWG or 0.016”/0.4mm. Since a significant portfolio of 27 BWG installations is rapidly taking shape, it is prudent to examine key ingredients that would warrant consideration of this “next-plateau” gauge material. Indeed, work is currently underway exploring the technology required to fabricate condenser tubes as thin as 30 BWG /0.013”/0.3 mm.) In summary, the paper will present and summarize substantive evidence suitable for comparison against previously acquired empirical data and prior art.