May 2004, Teesside, UK

The use of thin-walled Titanium tube-liners has been tried by others in the power generation, petroleum refining and process industries as well as those in the heat exchanger restoration business. The incentives for the use of Titanium are its highly desirable properties of enhanced corrosion, erosion and fouling resistance compared to traditional materials. Results have been disappointing until now due to Titanium's resistance to precise forming. The 'springback' effect exhibited by Titanium is well documented and readily observable in practice.

After a five year research and development programme, CLEVELAND TUBE have developed a Titanium tube-liner expansion process that uses three distinct methodologies. When combined, the new process overcomes the springback effect, achieves full-length metal-to-metal contact of tube-liner to parent tube, is fast, field friendly and reliable.

Hydraulic supply controls for Titanium  full length tube-liner expansion

The culmination of this research and development programme came in the first quarter of 2004 with the filing of three patent applications (GB0405572.9, GB0406203.0 and GB0408625.2) covering the technologies involved.

Plant operators now have the choice of fast and cost-effective heat exchanger tube-lining in Titanium vs. re-tubing.

Contact us for further information about this innovative development in condenser and heat exchanger restoration.