Copper also has many applications in the energy and petrochemical industries, mainly in the following areas:
I. Energy industry
Thermal and atomic power generation rely on steam for work. The steam circuit is as follows:
Boiler steam - steam drive turbine work - work after the steam sent to the condenser - cooled into water - back to the boiler to become steam again.
The main condenser consists of a tube plate and condenser tubes. Because of the good thermal conductivity of steel and resistance to water corrosion, so they are using pot brass, aluminum brass or white copper manufacturing. According to the information, 5 tons of condenser tubes are required per 10,000 kW of installed capacity. A 600,000 kW power plant would require 300 tons of condenser tubing.
The utilization of solar energy also uses many copper tubes. For example: a hotel near London, England, a swimming pool, equipped with a solar heater, in the summer can keep the water temperature at 18 to 24 ℃. The solar heater contains 784 pounds (356 kilograms) of copper tubing.
Second, the petrochemical industry
Copper and many copper alloys, in aqueous solutions, hydrochloric acid and other non-oxidizing acids, organic acids (eg: acetic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, lactic acid, oxalic acid, etc.), in addition to ammonia, a variety of alkalis and non-oxidizing organic compounds (eg: oils, phenols, alcohols, etc.), have good corrosion resistance; therefore, a large number of the petrochemical industry used in the manufacture of a variety of containers in contact with corrosive media, piping systems, filters, pumps and valves and other Devices. Also use its thermal conductivity, manufacturing a variety of evaporators, heat exchangers and condensers. Because of the good plasticity of copper, especially suitable for the manufacture of modern chemical industry in the intricate structure, copper pipe cross preparation of the heat exchanger. In addition, in the petroleum refining plant are used in the production of bronze tools; the original back to the impact of the sparks do not burst out, can prevent the occurrence of fire.
Third, the marine industry
The ocean accounts for more than 70% of the earth's surface area, the rational development and utilization of marine resources is increasingly being people's attention. Seawater contains indeed "easy to cause corrosion of chloride ions, steel, aluminum, even stainless steel and many other engineering metal materials are not resistant to seawater corrosion. In addition in these materials, as well as wood, glass and other non-metallic materials on the surface will also form marine biological pollution. Copper is unique, not only seawater corrosion resistance; and dissolved in the water of copper ions have a bactericidal effect, can prevent marine life fouling. Therefore, copper and copper alloy is a very important material in the marine industry, has been in the desalination plant, marine oil and gas platforms, as well as other coastal and submarine facilities in a wide range of applications. For example, piping systems, pumps and valves used in the desalination process, as well as equipment used on oil and gas platforms, including splash zones and underwater bolts, drilling days, anti-biofouling packages, pumps, valves, and piping systems and so on.
