Titanium Heat Exchanger

Titanium Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers are high-performance heat transfer equipment designed for demanding industrial applications where excellent corrosion resistance, reliable heat transfer, and long service life are required.

Manufactured using commercially pure titanium and titanium alloys, typically Titanium Grade 2 (Gr2) and Grade 12 (Gr12), these heat exchangers are particularly suitable for corrosive media such as seawater, wet chlorine, chloride-containing solutions, and selected chemical process fluids.

The combination of titanium tubes and a titanium-clad or titanium-compatible shell provides reliable corrosion protection while maintaining the mechanical strength required for industrial operation.

Titanium heat exchangers are widely used in:

Chemical processing plants

Chlorate and chlor-alkali facilities

Sulfur recovery units

Hydrocarbon processing facilities

Seawater desalination systems

Power generation plants

Acid regeneration systems

Pulp and paper bleaching systems

Marine and offshore applications

Why Titanium for Heat Exchangers?

Titanium develops a stable, tightly adherent passive oxide film when exposed to air or moisture. This protective film is responsible for its excellent resistance to corrosion in many aggressive environments.

Titanium is particularly well known for its resistance to seawater, wet chlorine gas, and chloride-containing solutions, making it an excellent material for heat transfer equipment used in marine, desalination, chlor-alkali, and chemical processing applications.

Its excellent corrosion resistance can significantly reduce the risk of tube leakage and unplanned maintenance, helping heat exchangers achieve a long operating service life.

Typical Technical Specification

Item	Tube Side	Shell Side
Working Pressure	0.19 MPa	0.072 MPa
Design Pressure	0.21 MPa	0.08 MPa
Working Temperature	105 °C	115 °C
Design Temperature	105 °C	115 °C
Medium	Seawater	Steam or Condensed Water
Heat Exchange Tube	Ø38 × 1.2 mm	-
Shell Size	-	6/35 × 1330 mm
Tube Material	Gr2 Titanium Welded Tube	-
Shell Material	-	Explosively Clad Titanium-Steel Plate, Gr2/S31603

Technical specifications can be customized according to process conditions, heat transfer requirements, pressure, temperature, and customer drawings.

Construction

The titanium shell and tube heat exchanger consists primarily of:

Titanium heat exchange tubes

Titanium-clad steel shell

Tube sheets

Connecting nozzles

Supports

Reinforcement components

Tube-side and shell-side process connections

Titanium tubes are selected according to the required corrosion resistance, pressure, temperature, and heat transfer conditions.

For applications requiring structural strength and corrosion resistance, explosively clad titanium-steel plates can be used to combine the corrosion resistance of titanium with the mechanical strength and cost efficiency of steel.

Titanium Heat Exchange Tubes

The heat exchanger tubes are manufactured from titanium according to applicable ASTM or GB standards.

Typical materials include:

Titanium Grade 2

Titanium Grade 12

Titanium welded tubes can be supplied according to the required diameter, wall thickness, length, and manufacturing specification.

For the example heat exchanger, the tube specification is:

Gr2 Titanium Welded Tube: Ø38 × 1.2 mm

The dimensional tolerances and inspection requirements are controlled during manufacturing to ensure reliable tube-to-tubesheet assembly and long-term operation.

Titanium Welding

Titanium requires strict control during welding because of its high chemical reactivity at elevated temperatures.

Titanium welding is therefore performed in a controlled working environment using dedicated welding equipment and appropriate shielding protection.

Key considerations include:

High chemical reactivity at elevated temperatures

Risk of contamination during welding

High melting temperature

Lower ductility compared with some stainless steels

Strict shielding gas requirements

Controlled welding temperature and working environment

For titanium components, TIG welding is commonly used. For the typical equipment described above, Gr2 titanium welding wire is used.

Special attention is given to the welding environment to minimize contamination and maintain weld integrity.

Tube-to-Tubesheet Connection

The connection between the titanium heat exchange tubes and tube sheet is designed for reliable sealing and mechanical integrity.

The tube-to-tubesheet joint is manufactured using a combination of:

Tube expansion

Strength welding

Penetrant testing

Hydrostatic testing

After tube expansion, a hydraulic pressure test is performed. Once the pressure test is successfully completed, residual moisture is removed before the tube ends are sealed and welded.

The weld between the heat exchange tube and tube sheet is subjected to penetrant testing (PT), with acceptance according to the specified inspection level.

Quality Control & Inspection

Every titanium heat exchanger undergoes strict inspection throughout manufacturing.

Dimensional Inspection

Typical tube dimensional tolerances include:

Tube outside diameter deviation: ±0.15 mm

Tube wall thickness deviation: ±0.12 mm

Dimensional inspection is performed to ensure proper fit-up, tube alignment, and assembly accuracy.

Weld Inspection

The connecting pipes, shell, and reinforcement components are fully welded according to the approved fabrication procedure.

Special attention is paid to the transition between connecting pipes and the shell. Sharp corners are avoided, and R-fillet transitions are used where required.

Relevant welds are subjected to appropriate non-destructive testing.

Inspection may include:

Visual inspection

Penetrant testing (PT)

Non-destructive weld inspection

Hydrostatic pressure testing

Dimensional inspection

Surface Treatment

After fabrication, titanium and stainless steel weld areas are thoroughly cleaned to remove oil, contaminants, and welding residues.

Titanium and stainless steel welds are cleaned and pickled/passivated according to the applicable manufacturing requirements.

For carbon steel surfaces, the standard coating procedure includes:

Rust Removal → Primer × 2 → Top Coat × 1

This provides additional protection for exposed carbon steel surfaces.

Applications

Seawater Desalination

Titanium heat exchangers provide excellent resistance to seawater and chloride-containing environments, making them suitable for desalination plants and seawater cooling systems.

Chemical Processing

Used for heating and cooling corrosive chemical media in reactors, process lines, and chemical production systems.

Chlor-Alkali & Chlorate Industry

Titanium's excellent resistance to wet chlorine and chloride-containing solutions makes it suitable for heat transfer equipment in chlorine-related processes.

Power Generation

Used in cooling and condensation systems where seawater or other corrosive cooling media are involved.

Pulp & Paper

Suitable for bleaching and chemical processing systems where chlorine-containing or corrosive media are present.

Marine & Offshore

Titanium heat exchangers are suitable for marine cooling systems and offshore process equipment requiring long-term resistance to seawater corrosion.

Key Advantages

Excellent Corrosion Resistance

Titanium provides outstanding resistance to seawater, wet chlorine, chlorides, and many chemical process environments.

Long Service Life

The stable passive oxide film protects the titanium surface and helps minimize corrosion-related failures and maintenance.

Reduced Leakage Risk

High corrosion resistance of titanium tubes helps reduce the risk of tube thinning, perforation, and process-fluid leakage.

High Reliability

Strict control of titanium welding, tube-to-tubesheet joints, pressure testing, and non-destructive inspection ensures reliable equipment performance.

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