Mechanical Strength and Leak Tightness of Expanded and Crimped Stainless Steel Tubes of High Pressure Gas Coolers

加拿大能源部门包括石油和天然气工业、炼油厂、石化厂以及使用冷却器和热交换器的化石和核电站。目前，这些设备中的大多数使用氟氯化碳和氟氯烃制冷剂，这是大气污染物的主要来源，并对全球变暖负有责任。由于二氧化碳对全球变暖的负面影响最小，它作为制冷剂的使用使其非常有吸引力。基于二氧化碳ACR技术的新一代冷却器用不锈钢管取代了铜，因为用作制冷剂时对二氧化碳的高压和高温要求。不幸的是，没有一家公司在加拿大生产二氧化碳不锈钢冷却器。*新的Kool-Air和巴黎科技学院(ETS)的研究伙伴关系旨在帮助Kool-Air获得满足这一需求的专业知识。特别是，建议调查不锈钢管在模具膨胀、卷曲和焊接时的完整性和密封性。模具管膨胀及其对卷曲和焊接的影响的评估对二氧化碳冷却器的性能至关重要。此类产品必须符合压力容器和管道的CSA和ASME要求。制造可靠的冷却器将有助于Kool-Air成长和扩大其产品线。**拟议的合作努力和产生的成果可用于促进二氧化碳不锈钢冷却器方面的知识，并有助于提高加拿大制造的设备的可靠性，以及它们是否符合目前世界各地严格的反逃逸排放法规和环境保护法。这一项目倡议有望为Kool-Air Inc.和其他类似的加拿大公司提供服务，以提高他们的服务能力、技能和专业知识，并使他们的活动多样化。

The Canadian energy sector comprises of oil and gas industry, refineries, petrochemical plants and fossil and nuclear power plants that use coolers and heat exchangers. Presently, most of these equipment use CFC and HCFC refrigerants that represent a major source of atmosphere pollutants and are responsible for global warming. Because CO2 has the lowest negative effect on global warming, its use as a refrigerant makes it very attractive. The new generation of coolers based on CO2 ACR technology replaces copper with stainless steel tubing because of the high pressure and high temperature requirements of CO2 when used as a refrigerant. Unfortunately, no company makes CO2 stainless steel coolers in Canada. **The new Kool-Air and École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) research partnership is aimed at helping Kool-Air acquire the expertise to fill this need. In particular, it is proposed to investigate the integrity and leak tightness of stainless steel tubes when subjected to die expansion, crimping and welding. The assessment of die tube expansion and its impact on crimping and welding is critical for the performance of CO2 coolers. Such products must comply with CSA and ASME requirements for pressure vessels and piping. The fabrication of reliable coolers will help Kool-Air grow and expand their product line. **The proposed collaborative effort and the generated results could be used to advance knowledge in CO2 stainless steel coolers and help improve the reliability of equipment manufactured in Canada and their compliance with the current strict anti-fugitive-emission regulations and environmental protection laws worldwide. This project initiative will hopefully serve Kool-Air Inc. and other similar Canadian companies to improve their service capability, skills and expertise and to diversify their activities.**