Reasons for leakage of heat exchange tubes
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Our company recently installed a by-product steam device, which uses molten salt at 400 degrees Celsius as the heating medium to produce steam in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The water supply temperature is 100 degrees Celsius, the steam pressure is 8.5Kgf/cm2, the temperature is 364 degrees Celsius, and it is 180 degrees Celsius after humidification. During half a year of operation, leakage of heat exchange tubes occurred three times. Each time there were several leaks, and at most there were more than 10 at one time. The heat exchange tubes were made of 304 stainless steel. There is no abnormality in the water quality analysis (pure water). I have been unable to confirm the cause. Please tell me.
They are all pipe leaks, not pipe-sheet welds. They are in use after repairs, so there are no photos.
Have you considered thermal expansion? Are chloride ions in the water exceeding the standard? Is it okay to control the material?
You have to see the corrosion pattern to know the cause. The process flow is unknown. Is humidification before or after heat exchange? What molten salt?