Figure 1 shows a flow chart of the Aluminum Association Test Unit located at the OSW Materials Test Center, Freeport, Texas. Details of the design of this plant have been reported previously. (1), (2) Design parameters for the unit simulate conditions of the Pt. Loma No. 2 MEMS. Operated for the Aluminum Association by Dow Chemical Company, this pilot plant now is beginning its second year of operation. During its first year, it operated at a 99% duty cycle. Four heat exchanger tube alloys, one structural and pipe alloy and two pressure vessel alloys are under test. Table I lists the alloys and their nominal compositions. Samples of the various aluminum alloys were removed after six months and after twelve months exposure. Based on detailed examination of the heat exchanger tubes, it may be concluded that aluminum alloys hold great promise for the construction of desalination equipment. This is not surprising considering the wide-spread use of aluminum in the construction of ocean-going vessels and marine hardware and the use of aluminum heat exchanger tubes by the chemical and petroleum industries.

Subject
Pits, Aluminum, Tubes, Inspection, Heat exchangers, Heat, Color, Scale, Brines, Pitting, Stainless steel, Aluminum alloys, Steam
© 1971 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1971
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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