Application areas of stainless steel pipes

23 Aug,2019

Application areas of stainless steel pipes
Key cities where stainless steel welded pipes are used in landscape and decorative projects:
　　In sectors such as light industry, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, wastewater treatment, water supply, and machinery, a considerable proportion of applications also exist. In industries like chemical engineering, fertilizer production, and petrochemicals, low-pressure pipelines are typically selected in standard sizes with diameters of Φ159 mm or greater.
　　Automotive mufflers also use stainless steel welded pipes.
　　Stainless steel seamless pipes are primarily used in the “three” sectors—chemical processing, fertilizer production, synthetic fiber manufacturing, petroleum, power generation, boiler applications, machinery, aerospace, nuclear energy, and the defense industry.
　　Stainless steel pipes for oil drilling
　　After the 1990s, China’s oil‑well pipe production capacity increased year by year, with exports surpassing imports and achieving self‑sufficiency.
　　However, most grades, such as J55 steel grade and others, are available only in limited quantities of high‑quality API‑specified steel pipes.
　　At present, the oilfield requires high‑strength, CO₂‑ and Cl⁻‑resistant steel grades with high API Q125 C95 collapse and fracture resistance, as well as specialized thread types conforming to API standards, particularly for use in cold regions; however, such oil‑well tubing has not yet been put into industrial production.
　　In the petroleum industry, increasingly stringent technical requirements are driving the development of oilfield tubing—tubing that is high‑performance and incorporates new materials and advanced technologies.
　　Non-magnetic stainless steel drill collars, high-CO, CO2, and Cl‑resistant super ferritic stainless steels, as well as Cr13 and Cr25 oil casing grades, are used in oilfield drilling. According to preliminary estimates, current annual demand exceeds 10,000 tonnes, and in 3 to 5 years it is expected to reach approximately 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes per year.
　　Most stainless steel pipes still rely on imports.
　　During the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period, new coal-fired power capacity totaled 180 million kilowatts, with approximately 40 million kilowatts added annually—primarily in units of 600,000 kW or larger—and about 50% of these were supercritical units, which make greater use of heat-resistant austenitic stainless steel boiler tubes.
　　More than 1.6 million kilowatts of ultra-supercritical thermal power units require 200 to 500 tons of heat-resistant stainless steel tubes; accordingly, the development plan calls for producing over 50,000 tons of such tubes annually.
　　The four major domestic boiler manufacturers, which produce 600,000 kW subcritical and supercritical units, as well as new power plants, tend to source heat‑resistant stainless steel tubes from domestic suppliers. In addition, the annual consumption of heat‑resistant stainless steel tubes for the construction and overhaul of thermal power boilers in China is approximately 12,000 tons, primarily involving three steel grades—TP304H, TP347H, and TP321H—with representative specifications ranging from an outer diameter of 38–4 mm to 10 mm and wall thicknesses up to 76 mm, and lengths not exceeding 10 meters.
　　Therefore, heat-resistant stainless steel tubes for coal-fired power plant boilers are worthy of further development. As supercritical units advance, the demand for high‑temperature, high‑pressure boiler tubes—such as TP347HFC, Cr18Ni Super304H (1–9 Cu3N), and TP310HCbN Cr25Ni20NbN (1)—is expected to increase.
　　At present, all such stainless steel pipes are imported.
　　“Three” heat-resistant stainless steel pipes for industrial use
　　Heat-resistant stainless steel pipes are primarily used in industrial heat transfer and fluid transport applications, with a substantial market size; the domestic market alone accounts for approximately 160,000 tons annually. Demand for these pipes is extremely high and subject to very stringent specifications, resulting in heavy reliance on imports.
　　The potential market includes large-diameter oil‑cracking furnace tubes and pipes operating at low temperatures. Due to their stringent requirements for heat and corrosion resistance, coupled with the inconvenience of installation and maintenance, these components demand a long service life. To meet these demands, it is necessary to optimize material composition and employ specialized heat treatments to enhance both mechanical and operational performance. Another promising market segment is the fertilizer industry, particularly for specialty steel pipes used in phosphate fertilizers (urea). Key steel grades include 316 and RE69, along with well‑logging steels and other specialized alloys.
　　Currently, stainless steel pipes are largely reliant on imports. Foshan Zhihuangjia Stainless Steel Materials Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Zhangwei Steel Machinery Co., Ltd.
　　A large-scale enterprise, conveniently located along the First Ring Road in Chencun Town, Shunde District, Foshan City. We specialize in manufacturing stainless steel pipes for mechanical structures and architectural decoration, industrial-grade stainless steel pipes, food‑grade sanitary piping, stainless steel heat exchangers, boilers, as well as stainless steel pipes and sheets for domestic drinking water and industrial applications, along with decorative stainless steel sheets. We also offer a comprehensive range of other stainless steel products and related items. Our products comply with Chinese GB standards, U.S. ASTM specifications, Japanese JIS standards, and more.

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