Erosion of a Titanium Plate Heat Exchanger Due to Hydrogenation

The paper presents an analysis of tests carried out on a titanium plate of a heat exchanger in which the flowing medium was hot gases with a temperature of 110 °C and a pH of less than 1. Strong hydrogenation of the titanium plate caused by the corrosion of the adjacent steel frame plate was detected. As a result of the synergy of the hydrogenation and erosion, a relative reduction in the thickness of the plate was observed locally by up to 94% in relation to the thickness of the titanium plate in the area not affected by degradation. The results of this study are not only of key engineering importance with regard to equipment design and the prevention of mechanical failures in titanium heat exchangers, but also with regard to equipment in other industries.