Nuclear Power
Tube Expansion (Titanium & Stainless Steel)
Once the tubes are in, each one is expanded into its tubesheet hole to seal and lock the joint. Our references cover titanium and stainless steel tubes in condensers, heat exchangers and desalination evaporators.
On a new build or a retube alike, every tube has to be expanded into the tubesheet once it is installed. The quality of that expansion decides whether the joint will leak, which makes it one of the critical steps of the whole job.
Our expansion equipment is developed in-house, and several items are patented. The same crew can install, expand, trim and weld in one continuous sequence, with fewer handovers between trades.
Equipment and tube materials
- Condensers, shell-and-tube heat exchangers and desalination evaporators
- Tube ends on turbine gland seal components and similar parts
- Tube materials: titanium, stainless steel, copper alloy
Don't see your equipment here? Ask us.
Work sequence
- Check tube and hole dimensions; set the expansion parameters
- Clean the tube holes and tube ends
- Expand the tubes (in several passes where specified)
- Inspect the expanded joints
- Move on to trimming, facing and welding as required
Schedule
Depends on the number of joints, the tube material and site conditions; we agree a plan before work starts.
Quality control
- Tube holes cleaned and inspected before expansion
- Expanded joints inspected and leak tested
- Hydrostatic test as required by the design
Photos
Related projects
Desalination
12-Effect Desalination Evaporator: On-site Fabrication
Jiangsu Qiulin Tenneng Equipment Co., Ltd. Quote for a similar job| Industry | Project | Unit rating | Date | Tube material | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Power | CGN Lufeng Units 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd.) | Oct 2025 | Titanium | Cleaning, tube installation, expanding & welding | |
| Nuclear Power | Tube Installation, Expanding & Welding, Changjiang Unit 4 (Harbin Turbine, Huludao) | 2 units | Mar 2025 | Titanium | Assembly |
| Nuclear Power | Shell Cleaning, Expanding, Trimming & Welding, Sanmen (Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd.) | Nov 2023 | Titanium | Retubing | |
| Nuclear Power | Lower Condenser Tube Expanding, Trimming & Welding, Haiyang Unit 3 (Harbin Turbine Co., Ltd.) | 1 unit | Sep 2023 | Titanium | Retubing |
| Desalination | Titanium Tube-End Expansion, Desalination Evaporator Project 17-121 | 3 units | Jul 2018 | Titanium | Tube-end expansion |
| Desalination | Titanium Tube-End Expansion on a Desalination Evaporator (Jiangsu Qiulin Tenneng Equipment Co., Ltd.) | 1 unit | Feb 2018 | Titanium | Tube-end expanding & facing |
| Desalination | Desalination Project (Shanghai Electric) | Oct 2016 | Titanium | Expanding, trimming & facing | |
| Nuclear Power | Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 | 1,000 MW | Jun 2016 | Titanium | Tube installation, expanding & welding |
| Nuclear Power | Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 | 1,000 MW | Jun 2015 | Titanium | Tube installation, expanding, trimming, facing & welding |
| Nuclear Power | Tube-to-Tubesheet Welding, Units 1 & 2, Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, Hainan | 600 MW | Nov 2013 | Titanium | Expanding, trimming, facing & welding |
FAQ
Is the expansion equipment your own?
Yes. Our tools for tube installation, expansion, trimming, tube-end welding and tube pulling are designed and built in-house, and several are patented.
We also sell the tools – see our product website.
Troubleshooting guides
- Rolled Tube Joints Leaking After Hydrotest: Causes and Fixes
- How to Set Tube Rolling Torque for Different Tube Materials and Sizes
- Rolling Titanium Condenser Tubes: What to Watch For
- Traceable Tube Rolling Records for Inspectors and Owners
Guides on the Lanbo products website, with causes, step-by-step fixes and the tools for the job.
Planning a similar job? Send us your equipment details
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