Marine Industry Applications

Titanium has become a cornerstone material in marine engineering due to its exceptional corrosion resistance and durability.

1.Offshore Oil and Gas:

Key Equipment: Oil platforms, crude oil coolers, riser pipes, pumps, valves, and fittings.

Material Advantages: Titanium resists sulfide, ammonia, and chlorine in seawater and crude oil.

Case Study: The U.S. pioneered titanium offshore platform supports and heat exchangers in the 1970s. Over 100 titanium heat exchangers are deployed on北海油田 drilling platforms.

2.Seawater Desalination:

Early desalination plants used copper/carbon steel but switched to titanium due to corrosion failures.

Titanium Tubes: Serve as heating pipes in evaporators.

Project Example: A Japanese firm built 10 distillation units (30,000 tons/day capacity) for Saudi Arabia, consuming 3,200 tons of titanium.

China’s Progress: Desalination plants in Tianjin and Shandong utilize titanium components.

3.Shipbuilding:

Applications: Hull structures, submarine pressure hulls, pipelines, valves, propellers, heat exchangers, and sonar domes.

Innovative Uses:

Japan employs titanium mesh and tube heat exchangers in aquaculture to regulate seawater temperature.

U.S. and Japanese OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) systems use titanium evaporators, condensers, and seawater intake systems.

Pharmaceutical Industry Applications

Pharmaceutical production involves highly corrosive media (e.g., HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, organic solvents), leading to severe equipment degradation.

1.Corrosion Challenges:

Frequent maintenance disrupts production schedules.

Corrosion byproducts (e.g., iron ions) contaminate products, compromising quality.

2.Titanium Solutions:

Airflow Drying Systems: Replacing stainless steel with titanium in pipelines, screw feeders, heaters, and cyclone separators eliminates iron contamination.

Corrosion Rate: Titanium’s annual corrosion rate is 0.0008–0.003 mm, ensuring compliance with stringent purity standards.

Key Titanium Equipment Types

1.Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers:

Ideal for high-pressure, high-flow marine and chemical applications.

2.Plate Heat Exchangers:

Compact design for pharmaceuticals and food processing.

3.Titanium Pumps/Valves:

Resistant to acidic and saline environments.

Advantages of Titanium