The chlor-alkali industry, a chemical industry with more than 100 years of history, mainly produces chlorine and caustic soda by electrolyzing brine solutions. In this field, the application of titanium and titanium alloys is very important. From early attempts to today's widespread application, titanium plays an irreplaceable role in the chlor-alkali industry.
In the chloralkali production process, titanium equipment has many applications, including metal anode electrolyzers, ion membrane electrolyzers, shell-and-tube wet chlorine coolers, and many other key equipment. Especially in the United States, titanium accounts for more than half of the heat exchangers used in chlorine production, and all new heat exchangers are made of titanium. This is enough to prove the important position of titanium in the chlor-alkali industry.
The chlor-alkali production process has undergone many changes, among which the application of titanium equipment and titanium tubes has also continued to develop. Titanium plays a key role in many links such as the anode liquid circulation system, the desalted brine system, and the dechlorination system. At the same time, titanium pumps are also widely used to transport refined brine, anode-circulating liquid, and other media. The amount of titanium used in a 10,000-ton-class device reaches about 8 tons, which shows the huge demand for titanium in the chlor-alkali industry.
Titanium has multiple specific application scenarios in the chloralkali industry, mainly including:
Electrolyzers: such as metal anode electrolyzers and ion membrane electrolyzers, which are the core equipment in the chlor-alkali industry, are used to electrolyze brine to produce chlorine and caustic soda. Titanium is widely used in the manufacture of this equipment due to its excellent corrosion resistance.
Cooling equipment: such as shell-and-tube wet chlorine cooler, which is used to cool the wet and hot chlorine generated during the electrolysis process so that it can be further processed and utilized. Titanium shows excellent corrosion resistance in high-temperature wet chlorine environments and is an ideal material for manufacturing such coolers.
Preheating and heating equipment: such as refined brine preheater, which is used to increase the temperature of brine entering the electrolyzer to improve electrolysis efficiency. The application of titanium in this equipment ensures the stable transmission of the medium at high temperatures and prolongs the service life of the equipment.
Dechlorination system: Equipment such as a dechlorination tower is used to treat chlorine-containing wastewater or gas to reduce environmental pollution. Titanium has been widely used in dechlorination systems due to its good corrosion resistance and stability.
Transportation system: Titanium pumps and titanium valves are used to transport refined brine, anode circulating liquid, and other media. The corrosion resistance of titanium ensures the safety and stability of the medium during transportation while improving the overall performance of the system.
Other auxiliary equipment: such as chlor-alkali cooling and washing towers, also play an important role in the chlor-alkali industry. The manufacture of this equipment is also inseparable from the support of titanium.
The advantages of titanium in the chlor-alkali industry are also significant. Especially in the cooling process of hot and humid chlorine, titanium shows extremely high corrosion resistance. Experimental data show that the annual corrosion of titanium in a high-temperature and wet chlorine environment is only 0.0025mm, which is much lower than other materials. Therefore, the use of titanium coolers can not only shorten the cooling and drying process, and reduce chlorine loss, but also reduce environmental pollution, creating favorable conditions for the stable operation of compressed gas and achieving high dryness.
The application of titanium in my country's chlor-alkali industry has also achieved remarkable results. From the birth of my country's first titanium cooler in 1965 to the widespread application of hundreds of titanium tube coolers today, the contribution of titanium materials in the chlor-alkali industry has been continuously highlighted.
In summary, the application of titanium and titanium alloys in the chloralkali industry is extensive and has significant advantages, covering almost every link of chloralkali production. Its excellent corrosion resistance, stability, and processing performance make titanium an indispensable and important material in the chlor-alkali industry. With the continuous development of the chlor-alkali industry, the application prospects of titanium materials will also be broader.
