Adding nickel to copper is the world’s most commonly used ‘alloy’ and it’s found a crucial role in protecting boats and other ocean assets.
An alloy with 90% copper and 10% nickel—also known as cupron-ickel—is not only strong and malleable, but resists corrosion. Alloys with 30% nickel content or those more highly alloyed with aluminum, chromium or tin are used where greater resistance to seawater flow, sand abrasion, wear and galling are needed.
Due to their naturally occurring resistance to seawater corrosion and intrinsic biofouling properties copper-nickel alloys have long been widely used in the components of seawater systems. Which is why its crucial for naval and commercial shipping, offshore oil and gas production, and desalination and power generation.
- Shipbuilding and Repair: Copper-nickel can be used for seawater cooling, bilge and ballast, sanitary, fire fighting, inert gas, hydraulic and pneumatic and chiller systems.
- Desalination Plants: Copper-nickels are established alloys in thermal desalination plants. In Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) desalination, copper-nickel is commonly used for heat rejection and recovery sections and brine heaters.
- Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms and Processing: Copper-nickel alloy systems are used on offshore oil and gas platforms and floating production, storage and offloading vessels.
- Power Generation: Copper-nickel pipes and components can be used in steam turbine condensers, oil coolers, auxiliary cooling systems and high pressure pre-heaters at nuclear and fossil fuel power plants..
- Seawater System Design: Managing corrosion with minimal maintenance and a high degree of reliability are major concerns in seawater system design.
