Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
(OP)
I am working on a project which requires a heat exchanger that can handle sea water on one side and deionized water on the other. Additionally, because of the application, no copper alloys can be used.
For deionized water only, I would typically use 316 stainless, but I believe the sea water will pose an issue to this material. I know brass is generally good for sea water, but this will be problematic for DI water, and as it contains copper, cannot be used. Titanium has been suggested, and seems to be a good fit, but is fairly expensive. Does anybody have any suggestions of other materials to look into? Thanks.
For deionized water only, I would typically use 316 stainless, but I believe the sea water will pose an issue to this material. I know brass is generally good for sea water, but this will be problematic for DI water, and as it contains copper, cannot be used. Titanium has been suggested, and seems to be a good fit, but is fairly expensive. Does anybody have any suggestions of other materials to look into? Thanks.





RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
All three alloys have long track records for successful use in seawater.
The super-ferritic will have the lowest cost of the three options. Using Sea-Cure for tubes and AL-6XN for the rest of the seawater exposed parts would be a typical construction.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
Titanium is your best overall choice and has a proven track record with both fluids. If the HX is not too big, the additional cost of TI, will not be too bad.
But, part of your choice of materials will depend on the style of the HX that you require..? Is this a shell & tube. plate-frame or what ? Will you need to periodically clean the seawater side of the HX ?
-MJC
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
MJC, did you get your words out of order? I think your last sentence should read "You WILL need to periodically clean the seawater side of the Hx.
rmw
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/8/83b/b04
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
The cooling water side will need to be well filtered or you will end up fouling the passages in the plates.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
It was not good for any applications which required a great deal of heat, nevertheless, if the volume of water is not too great, and the delta t is not too great it could be an option.
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RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
Yup....words out of order...
I agree with EdStainless on material selection
But, for a plate frame HX, I suggest that you get a price on Ti as well as one of the super-austenitics.
Also, be sure to get as much junk as possible out of the sea water incoming stream. A duplex strainer with a fine mesh seems to make sense. These will not be cheap either.
(Yes... I know that the maintenance people will complain about periodic cleaning of the system....thats the way it goes...)
-MJC
RE: Heat Exchanger Material Suggestions
rmw