Extreme conditions
High demands in plant technology
Increasing water needs and decreasing fresh water resources are making seawater desalination more and more important: the materials used in desalination plants have to meet extreme demands. Only the most corrosion-resistant materials are suitable for long-term contact with aggressive saltwater. ThyssenKrupp has developed tubes for this application which substantially increase heat exchanger life. As many plants work on the principle of evaporation and condensation, the material has to display optimum thermal conductivity as well as salt resistance.
Whether in separating processes in the chemical industry, in oil and gas processing or in various kinds of tubes, stainless steel and titanium are indispensable. The advantages of stainless steel are put to good effect not only in seawater desalination, in power plants, flue gas desulfurizers and chemical plants. The latest fuel cell technology also relies on stainless components.