In the realm of chemical engineering, caustic soda production faces the critical challenge of corrosion during the manufacturing process. Particularly vulnerable to corrosion in gaseous or liquid environments, traditional cast iron and carbon steel equipment struggle against localized and crevice corrosion assaults. To combat this issue, the global caustic soda industry is swiftly transitioning to titanium equipment.
Titanium's widespread application in caustic soda production is evident. Leveraging its exceptional corrosion resistance, titanium materials are extensively utilized in distillation gas coolers and condensers, notably in thin-walled titanium tubes with a lifespan of up to 20 years. This not only optimizes heat transfer conditions but also ensures that equipment's heat transfer and pipe cross-sectional areas do not diminish due to rust, especially crucial for distillation condensers.
Taking the United States as an example, the adoption of titanium tubes in caustic soda production has replaced the need for biennial cast iron tube replacements. This initiative significantly prolongs equipment lifespan and enhances production capacity by 25%. Moreover, to reduce costs further, foreign countries have started incorporating seamed thin-walled welded titanium strips to replace seamless tubes and widely employ titanium plate heat exchangers.
Since 1965, China has been exploring the use of titanium materials to address equipment corrosion issues in caustic soda production. Titanium's versatile applications in caustic soda production span various critical equipment, including crystallization external coolers, distillation tower top ammonia condensers, ammonium chloride mother liquor heaters, plate heat exchangers, umbrella plate heat exchangers, carbide tower cooling pipes, carbon dioxide turbine compressor impellers, and alkali pumps.
Of particular importance is the carbide tower, a core equipment in caustic soda production where lower cooling water tanks' cooling pipes face severe erosion corrosion. Despite past attempts with various anti-corrosion coatings proving ineffective, the use of titanium pipes instead of cast iron has eliminated corrosion for many years, yielding significant economic benefits. Furthermore, the extensive use of titanium pumps offers numerous advantages. Experimental results demonstrate that titanium pumps not only resist corrosion and wear but also operate at 70% to 80% efficiency for extended periods, conserving electricity, enabling leak-free operations, material savings, environmental cleanliness, and achieving a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
