Follow on Google News News By Tag Industry News News By Location Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News | CTL Pushes Possibilities With Zirconium Hot RollingCharles Thompson Ltd has manufactured a Zirconium heat exchanger bundle and header from a 40mm thick flat plate – an unusual thickness for this type of project and material.
By: Charles Thompson Ltd The parts were built to meet a client’s particular requirements; Instead, the company hot rolled the £70,000 Grade 702 Zirconium plate under strict procedures, controls and other special requirements to meet the client’s brief. CTL’s Technical Director Peter Coe said: “We worked closely with the experienced supply chain to make sure we knew exactly what the manufacture of this cylinder would entail. They told us they hadn’t worked with a company that was rolling Zirconium to this thickness before, so we feel like we’ve achieved something special. “The challenge was the rolling of the Zirconium at this thickness, taking into account the procedures, control and additional requirements like cleanliness, surface finish and uniform heat specifications. “Zirconium, especially of this form, doesn’t like being worked and the risks of cracking are extremely high. Of course, the part would be useless with one crack, and the smallest scratch or indent could have been disastrous.” CTL’s engineers heat treated the Zirconium and pre-bent the ends to form the cylinder. These were machined and the plate was heat treated again, before final rolling and welding. Its completed dimensions were 40mm thick x 910mm i/dia x 1200mm long. The components, which were required for use in the chemical industry, have been shipped to their new home. Meanwhile, CTL has received its official ISO 3834 certification for welding and fabrication. End
Account Email Address Account Phone Number Disclaimer Report Abuse
|
|