In the marine and offshore field, cupronickel pipes are one of the most reliable solution for marine fluid management. In fact, cupronickel is a copper-nickel alloy characterized by an excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical stability and long operating life so that it is the perfect choice for those whose focus is reliability, safety and long-term costs reduction.
For all these reasons, it is a highly appreciated solution for seawater-exposed equipment ensuring a better performance compared to other materials.
There are two main types: CuNi 90/10 and CuNi 70/30 which differ in the combination and percentage of copper and nickel.
The main properties of cupronickel that make it different from other materials are:
- Excellent resistance to seawater corrosion thanks tto the creation of a protective layer against corrosive agents
- Excellent resistance to erosion-corrosion since it preserves its integrity also in case of flow velocity and turbulences
- Prevention of marine growth (algae, mollusks) to avoid clogging or fouling in piping systems
- Good thermal conductivity making it ideal for heat exchangers
- Mechanical stability and fatigue strength even under vibration, temperature fluctuations, and pressure cycling
- Easy workability and welding
Therefore, why is it suggested to use this alloy? Thanks to the features highlighted above, the real advantages of using it are:
- Longer life of the systems that means less maintenance and downtime reduction
- Constant performance over time also in extreme conditions
- Operational safety since the risk of leaks and breakages is reduced
- Operational versatility; in fact it can be used in different contexts
In this regard, cupronickel tubes can be used in:
- Seawater cooling systems where a steady flow must be guaranteed. This happens for example in case of engine cooling systems
- Firefighting systems because even if they are not used for long periods, they preserve their original status thanks to cupronickel corrosion resistance
- Desalinisation systems to produce fresh water on board
- Condensers and heat exchangers on board and marine HVAC systems
- Ballast and bilge piping systems
- Offshore oil rigs for seawater transporting in process and cooling systems
Our company offers order-based cupronickel solutions to satisfy our customers’ specific need and to comply with the highest industry standards. Cupronickel tubes supply allows us each component to be tailored to the particular project need in terms of dimensions, thicknesses, treatments and configurations depending on the operating conditions and applicable regulations.
Do you have a project that requires cupronickel tubing?
Contact us for a technical consultation and a personalised quote based on your specific operational requirements.