Copper also has numerous applications in the energy and petrochemical industries, primarily in the following areas:
1. Energy Industry
Both thermal and nuclear power generation rely on steam to generate power. The steam circuit is as follows:
The boiler generates steam, which drives the turbine to generate power. The resulting steam is sent to the condenser, cooled to form water, and then returned to the boiler to be converted back into steam.
The main condenser consists of tube sheets and condenser tubes. Due to the excellent thermal conductivity and water corrosion resistance of steel, these tubes are constructed of brass, aluminum brass, or white copper. According to data, 5 tons of condenser tubes are required for every 10,000 kilowatts of installed capacity. A 600,000 kilowatt power plant would require 300 tons of condenser tubes.
The use of solar energy also utilizes significant quantities of copper tubes. For example, a hotel swimming pool near London, England, is equipped with a solar heater that maintains a water temperature of 18 to 24°C in the summer. This solar heater contains 784 pounds (356 kg) of copper tubes.
2. Petrochemical Industry
Copper and many copper alloys exhibit excellent corrosion resistance in aqueous solutions, non-oxidizing acids such as hydrochloric acid, organic acids (such as acetic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, lactic acid, and oxalic acid), various bases (excluding ammonia), and non-oxidizing organic compounds (such as oils, phenols, and alcohols). Therefore, copper is widely used in the petrochemical industry to manufacture various containers, piping systems, filters, pumps, valves, and other components that come into contact with corrosive media.
Copper's thermal conductivity is also utilized in the manufacture of various evaporators, heat exchangers, and condensers. Due to its excellent plasticity, copper is particularly well-suited for the complex, cross-woven heat exchangers found in modern chemical industry. Furthermore, bronze is widely used in the production of tools in oil refineries because it produces no sparks when impacted, thus preventing fires.
3. Marine Industry
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth's surface, and the rational development and utilization of marine resources are receiving increasing attention. Seawater contains chloride ions, which are highly corrosive. Many engineering metals, such as steel, aluminum, and even stainless steel, are not resistant to seawater corrosion. Furthermore, marine biofouling can form on the surfaces of these materials, as well as non-metallic materials such as wood and glass.
Copper stands out. Not only is it resistant to seawater corrosion, but the copper ions dissolved in water have a bactericidal effect, preventing marine biofouling. Therefore, copper and copper alloys are crucial materials in the marine industry and are widely used in desalination plants, offshore oil and gas production platforms, and other coastal and subsea facilities.
For example, these include piping systems, pumps, and valves used in the desalination process, as well as equipment used on oil and gas production platforms, including bolts and drill bits for splash zones and underwater applications, anti-biofouling sleeves, pumps, valves, and piping systems.
The company has a cluster of leading copper processing production lines in China, including:
German imported precision copper tube production line (annual output of 30,000 tons)
Japanese technology copper foil rolling line (thinnest up to 6μm)
Fully automatic copper bar continuous extrusion line
Intelligent copper sheet and strip finishing mill unit
Digitalized control and management of the whole production process is realized through MES system, and the dimensional accuracy of the products can reach ±0.01mm.
