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Application of 304 stainless steel pipe in petrochemical field
**Application of 304 Stainless Steel Pipes in the Petrochemical Industry**
Stainless steel plays a crucial role in the petrochemical industry, where it is used for a wide range of applications. These include stainless steel plates for storage tanks and heat exchanger casings, stainless steel composite plates for reactor and tower shells, and stainless steel tubes for furnace tubes and material transportation. Additionally, stainless steel forgings and internal components of towers are also widely utilized.
The petrochemical industry demands stainless steel with high corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides, sulfides, and other corrosive salts. It also requires materials that can withstand extreme temperature conditions—both high and low. For example, in crude oil exploration and development, stainless steel must resist corrosion from carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. In terms of material selection, 304 stainless steel is commonly used, with plate thicknesses ranging from 6 to 22 mm. This grade is often used for constructing polymer storage tanks and heat exchanger shells.
In more specialized applications, such as reactor tower internals, grades like 316L or TP347 are preferred, typically with thinner plates (2–6 mm). When transporting glacial acetic acid via liquid tankers, 304 and 316 stainless steel sheets are generally chosen due to their chemical resistance.
For urea plants, 316L stainless steel is the standard choice. According to recent data, the annual consumption of stainless steel in China’s petrochemical industry is approximately 70,000 tons. This includes 10,000 tons of stainless steel plates (8 mm or thicker), 15,000 tons of composite plates, 40,000 tons of seamless pipes, and 5,000 tons of welded pipes.
Despite its importance, domestic stainless steel is not yet widely used in the petrochemical sector. One major reason is the lack of a comprehensive standard system tailored to the industry's needs. There are also issues with the compatibility of plates, pipes, forgings, and welding materials. The production capacity for medium-thick, wide plates and large-diameter, thick-walled pipes is limited, leading to unstable product quality and insufficient development of new stainless steel grades.
Due to these limitations, many required stainless steel products cannot be manufactured domestically. For instance, China currently lacks the capability to produce 4-meter-wide and thick stainless steel plates, forcing many projects to rely on imported equipment. Moreover, Chinese companies lag behind their international counterparts in product innovation. European stainless steel manufacturers, for example, launch over a dozen new grades annually, while Chinese firms still struggle to keep up in this area.
To meet growing demand, it is essential for domestic producers to improve standards, expand production capabilities, and accelerate the development of advanced stainless steel grades. This will help reduce reliance on imports and ensure better support for the evolving needs of the petrochemical industry.