Heat exchangers and condensers are used in many industrial applications, from cooling liquids in chemical reactors to removing steam from engines and air conditioning systems. Heat exchangers transfer heat from one medium or gas stream to another, while condensers recover heat from the vapor phase by condensing it into liquid form. Titanium is used in both heat exchangers and condensers due to its high strength and corrosion resistance in a variety of corrosive environments. Titanium tubes can be used to build heat exchangers and condensers, and are joined together by welding or welding-cum-rolling techniques.
Welding is a common joining method used to join components of titanium heat exchangers and condensers. Welding involves the use of heat, pressure, or a combination of both to permanently bond two metals or thermoplastic materials together at the joint. The most common welding processes used on titanium are tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, plasma arc welding (PAW), and electron beam welding (EBW). However, tungsten inert gas welding is the most commonly used process. This method is suitable for thin-walled tubes and thin plates of titanium, as it uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to generate an arc and melt the base metal. In addition, TIG welding provides good control over the heat input and the weld pool, resulting in an excellent quality weld.
Welding-cum-rolling is another method used for joining titanium heat exchangers and condensers. This method combines rolling and welding, so the assembled components are stronger than those joined with welding alone. Welding-cum-rolling is typically used to join thin components such as thin-walled tubes and thin plates. This process involves first rolling and forming the titanium components, and then welding them together. The welding between the components is usually performed in two stages. First, a low-temperature welding is used to join the components into a continuous piece. The low-temperature welding process is used to ensure proper penetration of the weld and to minimize deformation of the components. After the low-temperature welding is complete, a high-temperature process is used to finish the weld.
The GB 4368-84 standard provides the requirements and test methods for welding and welding-cum-rolling titanium pipes for heat exchangers and condensers. This standard specifies the materials and tolerances, welding parameters, and testing and inspection requirements for welding titanium pipes. This standard also provides the requirements for welds, such as the minimum wall thickness and maximum length of the welds.
In conclusion, welding and welding-cum-rolling are two common methods used to join components of heat exchangers and condensers made of titanium. TIG welding is the most commonly used method, and this process is suitable for thin-walled tubes and thin plates of titanium. The GB 4368-84 standard provides the requirements and test methods for welding and welding-cum-rolling titanium pipes for heat exchangers and condensers.
