Titanium Material Selection Guide : Oil Refining And Chemical Industry

What are the different grades of titanium for oil refining and chemical industry? The application covers the entire industrial chain from crude oil extraction → oil refining and processing → chemosynthesis → environmental protection treatment. For the harsh working conditions in different links, customized material solutions are required.

 

1. Oil and Gas Extraction and Gathering and Transportation

• Offshore Oil and Gas Extraction

Subsea pipeline joints, heat exchangers, desulfurization devices, and risers.
β titanium alloy (Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al), Gr23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI).
The β titanium alloy's strength is 1100MPa, and its fatigue resistance is 5 times of 316L stainless steel. the seawater corrosion rate is <0.001mm/a, and the service life is over 20 years.

 

• Gathering and Transportation

Gathering and transportation pipelines, separators, internal components of desulfurization towers, valves/flanges.
Gr7 (Ti-Pd), Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V).
Gr7 (Ti-Pd) has no risk of sulfide stress corrosion cracking (SSCC) in the H₂S-H₂O system. It can replace traditional 13Cr stainless steel to extend the equipment service life from 3-5 years to more than 15 years.

2. Crude Oil Refining

• Atmospheric and Vacuum Distillation

Top condenser tubes, reflux drums, and condensed water pipelines.
Gr2 (CP Ti).
Pure titanium is resistant to Cl⁻ pitting and organic acid corrosion. It replaces 316L stainless steel.

 

• Catalytic Cracking

Internal components of reactors, cyclone separators, riser liners, and high-temperature valves.
Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Gr9 (Ti-3Al-2.5V).
Titanium alloys resist to high temperature (up to 700℃) and has better wear resistance than stainless steel. The service life of cyclone separators is extended from 1-2 years to more than 5 years.

 

• Hydrocracking

High-pressure heat exchanger tubes, reactor feed distributors, catalyst support grids, and high-pressure pipelines.
Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Ti-5Al-2Sn-ELI.
The resistance to hydrogen embrittlement (low hydrogen solubility) H₂S.It can reduce the equipment weight by 30%-50% and avoid hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) of stainless steel.

 

Different Grades of Titanium Bars,Plates,Wires and Tubers in Stock

 

 

3. Chemosynthesis

• Chlor-Alkali Industry (Most Application Areas)

Ion-exchange membrane electrolyzers , chlorine gas coolers, brine preheaters, and dilute brine circulation pipelines.
Gr1/Gr2 (CP Ti), Gr7 (Ti-Pd 0.15% Pd).
Pure titanium forms a dense oxide film in wet chlorine gas, with extremely strong corrosion resistance; Ti-Pd alloy can improve corrosion resistance in reducing acids .

 

• Acetic Acid/Acetic Anhydride Production

Acetic acid reactors, heat exchangers, transport pipelines, and internal components of rectification towers.
Gr2 (CP Ti), Gr7 (Ti-Pd).
The resistance to acetic acid corrosion and free of metal ion pollution. It replaces Hastelloy B-2, reducing costs by 40%-60% and improving equipment operation stability.

 

 

• Urea Production

Internal components of urea synthesis towers, high-pressure scrubbers, carbamate condensers, and urea solution transport pipelines.
Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Gr2 (CP Ti).
The corrosion resistant by urea-carbamate solution, avoiding intergranular corrosion of carbon steel/stainless steel. The service life of internal components is extended from 2-3 years to more than 10 years.

4. Environmental Protection Treatment and Tail Gas Governance

• Wastewater Treatment

Oxidation reactors (Fenton oxidation, ozone oxidation), membrane separation equipment, aeration devices, and wastewater transport pipelines.
Gr2/Gr3 (CP Ti), Gr7 (Ti-Pd).
It resists to high-salt wastewater corrosion and biological fouling. It replaces FRP and 316L stainless steel, extending the service life from 3-5 years to more than 10 years.

 

 

• Flue Gas Desulfurization and Denitrification (FGD)

Internal components of desulfurization towers (spray layers, demisters), flue gas heat exchanger tubes, and scrubber shells.
Gr2 (CP Ti), Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V).
The resistance to condensed acid corrosion and better wear resistance than FRP. The service life of heat exchanger tubes is extended from 2-3 years to 6-8 years.

 

 

Selection Criterion	Specific Condition	Recommended Titanium Material
Corrosion Medium Priority	Oxidative corrosion	Gr1/Gr2 (CP Ti)
	Reductive corrosion	Ti-Pd alloy / Ti-3Mo-2Fe
	High temperature & high pressure (>300℃, >10MPa)	Gr5 (Ti-6Al-4V)
Cost Balance Principle	Conventional corrosion	Gr2 (CP Ti)
	Extreme conditions	Gr7 (Ti-Pd), β titanium alloy
Working Condition Adaptation	Marine/vibration environments	β titanium alloy / Gr23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI)
	High product purity requirements	Pure titanium (CP Ti)

 

 

• Extraction : Deep-sea oil and gas development promotes the application of β and high H₂S-resistant titanium alloy, and titanium materials for subsea pipelines are developing to large diameter and thick wall;
• Refining : In million-ton-class large oil refining units, the consumption of titanium heat exchangers and reactor internal components continues to increase, and the titanium consumption of a single unit can reach hundreds of tons;
• Chemical Synthesis: Integrated projects promote the integrated application of titanium materials in multiple scenarios.
• Environmental Protection: Under the "dual carbon" , the application proportion of titanium materials in desulfurization, denitrification, and advanced wastewater treatment equipment is increasing, and their green and lightweight characteristics are in line with the industry's low-carbon needs.

 

Ruihang mainly manufacture titanium products,such as titanium plates,sheets,bars,wires,tubes,forgings. The full range of titanium products are available, including Grade 1-4, Grade 5, Grade7, Grade9,Grade12, Grade23 etc. If you have purchasing needs, feel free to contact us: Sam.Rui@bjrh-titanium.com