Why SEA-CURE® Tubing
Since its inception, SEA-CURE® condenser installations have saved the power generation industry hundreds of millions of dollars.
Cost Savings with SEA-CURE® Tube
SEA-CURE® is a high-performance Stainless Steel that can be used as an effective alternative to Copper-Nickel, Titanium and other tube materials. It is one of the most cost effective alloys in High Chloride applications, where the potential for Microbiological Influenced Corrosion (MIC) exists. Designed for Sea Water applications, SEA-CURE® has a excellent corrosion resistance and good thermal conductivity which is required in steam surface condensers, speciality heat exchangers in numerous industries and other applications needing the combination of high corrosion resistance and superior mechanical properties. SEA-CURE® has been specifically developed to perform in applications where Chloride Induced Pitting, Crevice & Stress Corrosion Cracking may be encountered. SEA-CURE® also significantly increases the service life of the tube, leading to greater cost savings by eliminating repairs and tube replacements.
SEA-CURE® Tubing is the leading alternative corrosion resistant tube material to Titanium and Copper Alloys.
When stressed to 90% of its yield strength and placed in a 212˚F (100˚C) 40% CaCl2 solution, SEA-CURE® did not crack even after a 5000 hour exposure. Type 316L stainless cracks within 400 hours under the same conditions. Fortunately, SEA-CURE’s embrittlement is reversible once the hydrogen source is removed. Titanium’s embrittlement is permanent.
SEA-CURE® – Better than Copper Alloys or Titanium.
Copper Alloys are notorious for causing copper deposits on associated equipment, which reduce efficiency and restrict capacity in plant equipment, and are also harmful to the environment. High Chlorides, such as salt or brackish cooling water can decrease the life of a tube. Some of the failures you can expect in Copper Alloy or Titanium Tubing are: 1. Ammonia stress grooving & corrosion 2. Corrosion cracking 3. Erosion 4. Pitting 5. Under deposit corrosion 6. Sand corrosion and 7. Steam impingement erosion (Water droplet erosion). The risk of these failures are greatly reduced and even eliminated by choosing SeaCure® Tube. Utility Engineers and Fabricators choose SEA-CURE® as their tube material of choice for electric power plant condensers and BoP (Balance of Plant) heat exchangers, various heat exchangers in chemical, petrochemical & refining applications, desalination heat exchangers, food processing, marine and flue gas handling systems (such as secondary heat exchangers in high efficiency furnaces). The American Gas Association has Approved SEA-CURE® for flue gas condensate applications. SEA-CURE® was chosen by the American Department of Energy’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude coolers.
Applications & Industries
Power Plant Condensers
Heat Exchangers
Petrochemical
Failure Analysis in Main Steam Condensers and BoP Heat Exchangers
An interesting abstract from the 33rd Electric Utility Workshop, held at the University of Illinois and presented by Daniel S. Janikowski of Plymouth Tube Co, notes: “Power plant chemists and engineers have many choices when selecting tubing materials for a condenser, feedwater heater or balance-of-plant application. The wide variety of alloy choices available (ASTM lists over 75 stainless steel alloys) offers them greater flexibility to choose the best tube material to meet budgetary constraints and still provide the performance needed for the lifetime of the plant. Unfortunately, upset conditions are common in power generation and these can result in premature unexpected failure of tubing and piping materials. These may include differences in operation modes from design, changes in water chemistry due to leaks in other parts of the system, corrosion from unexpected sources, impact of improper lay-up practices and the effect of corrosion product transported to other parts of the system. The motivation to build modern combined-cycle, coal and nuclear power plants for the lowest cost per kilowatt has stretched the envelope for materials performance resulting in many tube failures”
Reliable Heat Exchanger Tubing
Read Full Article from Plymouth
To this end, our goal is to furnish our customers experiencing performance and reliability issues, with as much relevant information as possible for failures they experience in particular applications. Through intense engagements with our customers, a thorough root cause analysis of the failure mode is possible and also critical in selecting the correct tube material.
From this information, we are able to build material selection comparisons, which consider all current operating parameters, the original design, performance and longevity gains or losses for different materials, maintenance considerations and a return on investment model for choosing the correct tube material for an application.
Coupled with this, it is imperative that a manufacturing specification review is performed. Specific tube manufacturing processes and appropriate testing procedures need to be implemented per application, as these will have a direct influence on plant performance and longevity of the client’s capital equipment.
SEA-CURE® boasts Superior Physical Characteristics
Erosion Resistance
“SEA-CURE® exhibits excellent resistance to all type of erosion. It is not affected by high water velocities from design, partial tube blockages, sand or solid particles or steam impingement erosion. This is a direct result of the hardness of the base metal of the tube, below the protective Oxide layer.”
Mechanical Strength
“Approved for ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code construction Section VIII, Division 1, allowable stresses for both sheet & tube are much higher than lower alloy ferritic & austenitic stainless steels. Allows for substantial savings through reduced section thickness or higher pressures. “
Foreign Material Exclusion
” SEA-CURE® is far less susceptible to wear damage from foreign materials like Bolts, Nuts, Stones etc, lodging themselves inside condenser tubes, vibrating against the wall of the tube & wear holes. Titaniums’ low strength & hardness is more susceptible to failures.”
Thermal Conductivity and Expansion
“The Thermal conductivity is similar to Titanium and higher than the Austenitic stainless steels with higher Nickel alloys. The thermal expansion coefficients are similar to those of carbon steel and lower than those of the austenitic stainless steels or copper alloys.”
Anisotropy
“As SEA-CURE® has a Cubic Crystal Structure, it does not have problems with Anisotropy like that of Titanium Grade 2, as referenced in the ASME Section II, Part D 2010 Edition, Appendix A-454. This section cautions that Titanium properties may vary by as much as 45%”
Reversible H2 Embrittlement
Corrosion Resistance
Vibration Resistance
Higher Hardness
Excellent Stiffness
Corrosion Resistance
About SEA-CURE® Tube INC
SEA-CURE® is a high performance stainless steel tube solution designed for use in highly corrosive environments and seawater applications. With over 40 years of commercial history, SEA-CURE® has an outstanding performance record, and over 145 million feet of SEA-CURE® tubing has been shipped worldwide. It is one of the most cost-effective alloys used in power plant condensers, heat exchangers and desalination plants due to its excellent corrosion resistance, good thermal conductivity, and superior mechanical and physical properties. SEA-CURE® is specially engineered to reduce life-cycle cost by preventing tube leaks, ensuring tube cleanliness, eliminating chemical treatment and reducing CO2 costs. Since its inception, SEA-CURE® condenser installations have saved the power generation industry hundreds of millions of dollars.
SEA-CURE® Chemical Composition
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Hours (GMT+2)
Monday 8-5
Tuesday 8-5
Wednesday 8-5
Thursday 8-5
Friday 8-5
SEA-CURE® Quality Assurance
SEA-CURE® Tubing is tested using Air-Under-Water testing as well as a choice of either Eddy Current Testing or Ultra-Sonic testing. 100% of the Outside Diameter and along the length of all tubes produced are tested with a 2 plane laser micrometer. A rigourous visual inspection of the ID and OD or the tubes is performed prior to packaging. Plymouth Tube is ISO9000 accredited and tubing can be certified in accordance with EN10204/ ISO 10474 3.1.