Sumitomo Metals Receives Major Order for Super High-end Boiler Tubes

Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Metals), together with Sumitomo Corporation, has received an order for over 3,000 tons of super high-end boiler tubes from Hitachi Power Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. These TP347HFG(*1) steel tubes are to be used in the heat exchangers of boilers at coal-fired thermal power plants* in South Africa.

In light of rising demand for reductions in the emission of carbon dioxide and resource saving, thermal power plants have been required to achieve high thermal efficiency in power generation in recent years, and super critical or ultra super critical(*2) boilers have become the mainstay. Accordingly, demand for super high-end boiler tubes has been rising rapidly. The TP347HFG products that were ordered this time will be used as tubes in heat exchangers, where the highest temperatures and pressures are borne in such boilers.

In order to meet demand growth, Sumitomo Metals completed a 50% increase in production capacity for super high-end boiler tubes (from 12,000 tons/year to 18,000 tons/year) at the Pipe & Tube Company's Steel Tube Works in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, in October 2007.

Sumitomo Metals and Sumitomo Corporation will continue to focus on expanding sales of super high-end boiler tubes in the future.

[Order Details]
1. Products: Super high-end boiler tubes, "TP347HFG"
2. Quantity: Over 3,000 tons
3. Delivery: From July 2008 to July 2010

* Medupi Thermal Power Plant (Six 800,000 kW boilers)
Bravo Thermal Power Plant (Six 800,000 kW boilers)

[Terms]
*1. TP347HFG steel tubes
The major features required for boiler tubes used in heat exchangers in boilers of thermal power plants are steam-resistant oxidation characteristics and high-temperature durability. The " TP347HFG " steel tubes developed by Sumitomo Metals have achieved a high level of performance in both features. The TP347HFG materials for tubes became the first materials developed in Japan to be registered as standard materials at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
For ultra super critical boilers, Sumitomo Metals' proprietary products " SUPER304H " and " HR3C " are the mainstay but, when steam-oxidation resistant characteristics are emphasized, the " TP347HFG " is used, depending on the design.

*2. Super critical and ultra super critical
When temperature and pressure rise, water skips the boiling stage and turns immediately into steam. This thermodynamic point is called the super critical point. When power is generated at steam conditions above the super critical point, it is called " super critical power generation. "
When steam at turbine inlets is at levels higher than 24MPa and 566 degrees Centigrade, it is called " ultra super critical power generation. "