Condenser tube failures in water-cooled condensers with copper-based alloys

Integrity of the condenser is one of the most important prerequisites for optimum availability, reliability and performance of fossil and nuclear units. For many decades, copper-based alloys exclusively were used for condenser tubing. Recently, generic 300 Series stainless steels, proprietary austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, and titanium seem to have completely displaced the traditional copper-based alloys. However, arsenical admiralty brass, arsenical aluminum brass, and 70-30 copper-nickel alloy have been successfully applied in countless applications in units with once-through and circulating cooling tower systems. It is believed that also in the future copper-based alloys will maintain their important position among the condenser tube materials. This contribution focuses on operation experience and the most important types of tube failures in water-cooled condensers with copper-based alloys. (orig.)