The Savannah River National Laboratory is researching the use of type 316L in a powder bed fusion laser process to fabricate a hydrogen isotope separation unit for a thermal cycling absorption process.
One of the most important innovations in manufacturing is additive manufacturing (AM or 3D printing), which is likely to have a profound effect on process tubing. Also, Centravis has developed lean-duplex (2304) cold-worked pipes for use in the auto industry. Another company offering tubular solutions for the auto and energy industries is the recently formed Vallourec Tubos para Indústria (VTI), a collaboration between Vallourec’s Drawn and Profiled Tubes Unit and the Açotubo Group’s Cold Drawn Tubes Division. Thyssenkrupp Precision Steel is exploring highstrength, ultra-light steel, manganeseboron steel for tube stabilisers and hybrid aluminium-steel tubes using an internal high-pressure forming process. Here the considerable weight of the batteries makes it imperative to save weight in other areas. Austenitic stainless-steel base tubes are expected to see greater use in biomass and waste-to-energy plants, where operating temperatures are increasing.Īnother market seeing innovation in tubular products is that of electric cars. USC plants have benefited from the recent development of A625 weld overlay on austenitic stainless, a technology that brings high corrosion resistance and the ability to withstand hot steam. Other power generation sectors likely to consume more stainless steel and CRAs include concentrated solar power, which requires heat-resistant nickel alloy tubing, ultra-supercritical (USC) coal-fired stations and biomass and waste-to-energy facilities. The demand is for tubular products in titanium, zirconium, nickel alloy as well as stainless (ref 3). According to Fine Tubes, global demand is not slowing and comes mainly from China, Canada, the USA and India. One striking feature of the COP26 talks in Glasgow is the reappraisal of nuclear power as a means to combat global warming, with the International Energy Agency pointing out that targets will be difficult to meet without the contribution of nuclear fission. Power Generation The Nogent nuclear power plant in France.īut the really dramatic developments are occurring across the whole range of power generation. Moreover, the sector is bristling with innovation and is learning to harness smart technology to lower production costs and streamline inspection, monitoring and maintenance. Seamless tubes and pipes are growing 3-5% annually(ref 2). The fundamentals were always good: growth in the stainless steel pipes and tubes market is expected to be +4.1% per year from 2021 to 2027( ref 1). The sector as a whole was badly hit at the start of the pandemic (2020) but has bounced back as restrictions are lifted. This is reflected in recent rises of all commodity prices, including stainless steel, and in the sellers’ market that currently prevails in the field of tubes and pipes.Ĭovid 19 affected producers in different ways some were compelled to close down facilities, while others have carried on (almost) as normal.
Supply chains stretched to the limit, congested ports, and labour shortages are factors that suggest inflation is not going away any time soon. Inflation is back, with the pandemic exacerbating a problem that may have occurred anyway. Sellers’ market MST recently commissioned the world’s largest cold pilger machine, a KPW 370L from SMS Group.
0 kommentar(er)
