What are the applications of high-temperature alloys in the petrochemical industry?

In the petrochemical industry, the production environment is often accompanied by high temperature, high pressure, and highly corrosive media, which puts extremely strict requirements on equipment materials. As a high-performance material, high-temperature alloys have demonstrated indispensable importance in the petrochemical industry due to their excellent comprehensive performance. ​
High temperature alloys play a crucial role in reaction equipment in the petrochemical industry. Taking the ethylene cracking furnace as an example, it is the core equipment for producing ethylene in the petrochemical industry. Its furnace tubes need to withstand high temperatures of up to 1100 ℃ and strong corrosive gases such as hydrogen sulfide during operation. Furnace tubes made of HP40Nb alloy, through carbide strengthening mechanism, can operate stably in such harsh environments, with a service life of up to 100000 hours, which is three times longer than ordinary heat-resistant steel, effectively ensuring the continuity and stability of ethylene production. For example, chemical reactors, as the site where numerous chemical reactions occur, not only have complex temperature and pressure changes inside, but there are also various corrosive raw materials and products. High temperature alloy GH2132 is often used to manufacture such reactors due to its excellent high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance, ensuring safe and stable operation of the equipment under complex working conditions. ​
In the pipeline transportation system of petrochemicals, high-temperature alloys are also crucial. Transportation pipelines need to transport various corrosive media under high temperature and pressure, such as crude oil, refined oil, chemical raw materials, etc. N08810 high-temperature alloy has become an ideal material for manufacturing high-temperature and high-pressure pipelines due to its excellent corrosion resistance in corrosive media such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and chloride. It can effectively resist the erosion of media, prevent pipeline leaks, ensure the safety and stability of material transportation, and avoid production interruptions and environmental pollution caused by pipeline failures. ​
Heat exchangers are also commonly used equipment in petrochemical production to achieve heat transfer and exchange. During operation, the heat exchanger needs to withstand high temperature, high pressure, and corrosion from different media. Alloy33 high-temperature alloy is commonly used in the manufacture of heat exchangers due to its excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, high-temperature strength, good corrosion resistance, and thermal stability. Its lower coefficient of thermal expansion and good thermal conductivity make the heat exchanger more stable and reliable during operation, improving heat exchange efficiency and ensuring the efficient operation of the entire production process. ​
In addition, high-temperature alloys have been widely used in catalytic cracking units, hydrogenation units, and other equipment that require operation in high temperature, high pressure, and highly corrosive environments during the petroleum refining process, such as reaction vessels, valves, catalyst carriers, etc., due to their unique performance advantages. They can withstand harsh working conditions, greatly improving the stability and reliability of equipment, extending its service life, reducing maintenance and replacement costs, and providing solid guarantees for the efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly operation of petrochemical production. ​
With the continuous development of the petrochemical industry towards large-scale, refined, and efficient direction, the performance requirements for equipment and materials will become increasingly strict. High temperature alloys will continue to leverage their performance advantages and demonstrate broader application prospects in the petrochemical industry through continuous technological innovation and performance optimization, contributing significantly to the sustainable development of the industry. ​