Outokumpu Stainless Tubular Products - Welded Stainless Steel Tubes and Pipes for Fresh Water Production

Outokumpu Stainless Tubular Products (OSTP) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of welded stainless steel tubes and pipes for high pressure pipings and energy recovery systems in Brackish or Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO/SWRO) plants.

Outokumpu combines cost-efficient production with global sales and distribution network.

FRESH WATER PRODUCTION – A NATURAL APPLICATION FOR STAINLESS STEELS

About 97% of all water on the earth is seawater and only 30% of the remaining 3% is available. The growing lack of fresh water in several parts of the world is a combination of increased consumption, high local concentration of people, industrial activity and a decreasing amount of water locally.

Outokumpu is the leading company, both in R&D and products, when it comes to materials that work in corrosive environments, with increased temperature and increased pressure, which are the conditions in fresh-water production. Outokumpu produces pipes that resist these tough environments and we work close to engineering companies.

PIPES FOR HIGH PRESSURE PIPING AND ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEMS IN REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) PLANTS

Historically the austenitic steel 316L has been widely used in high pressure piping systems in SWRO plants. The history has proven though that the grade's corrosion resistance against crevice and pitting corrosion is not enough. The Outokumpu grade 254 SMO® has successfully replaced 316L in a number of plants and today it is a common grade for the application due to the operational reliability it provides.

These pipes are exclusively produced in our mills in Storfors and Fagersta (Sweden). Larger diameter, thick-wall pipes are produced in Storfors and smaller diameter tubes are produced in Fagersta.

WELDED SAF 2507® PIPES FOR REDUCED WALL THICKNESS

High strength super duplex grade SAF 2507® is a newcomer in this industry and so far has not been used in the high-pressure systems of SWRO plants, with the exception of a few maintenance jobs.

Using welded SAF 2507® pipes will give designers the opportunity to reduce wall thickness as a result of the pipes' high strength. The grade's corrosion resistance for this application is still strong enough and could be a very good alternative to 254 SMO®.

The Storfors unit is the first welded pipe producer in the world to deliver large diameter heavy wall SAF 2507® pipes to what will become the largest SWRO plant in the world.

STAINLESS STEEL TUBES FOR DOMESTIC PIPE SYSTEMS

The use of stainless steel tubes in domestic pipe systems will substantially reduce the life cycle cost and is also a hygienic alternative compared to other materials. Outokumpu in Fagersta has years of experience covering domestic pipe systems.

PROJECT BUSINESS – OUR DAILY WORK

The Storfors mill was designed to work with project-orientated businesses. Like the unit in Fagersta, the Storfors mill staff work globally with applications that require the product to cope with the very toughest environments time after time.

In the oil and gas industry, we work with customers like Statoil, Shell, Exxon and Saudi Aramco. We also work with the major actors within the desalination industry.

LIFE CYCLE COSTS

The usual method of comparing the initial cost, i.e. the cost of acquisition plus installation, can lead to incorrect conclusions. A short-term installation will have a low initial cost if a carbon steel or a low-alloyed steel is chosen.

The long-term stainless steel option could imply a higher initial cost - however, it also ensures less maintenance and a reliable operation. Consequently, the long-term option results in a lower life cycle cost (LCC). Health and safety aspects are also important areas of consideration.

INTEGRATED PROCESS CONTROLS AND TESTING

Continuous process controls, checks and final testing are fully integrated within the Outokumpu group, ensuring that products leaving Outokumpu are of the highest quality and are fully reliable. As a step towards Outokumpu's commitment to contribute to a better environment, we are certified according to ISO 14001 and the quality system ISO 9002.