NEWS OF INDUSTRY

Stainless‐steel Tubes in Condenser. Power companies, using a non‐ferrous metal, replaced tubing in their steam condensers after five to eight years' service at Elrama, on the Monongahela River, eastern U.S.A. Two years ago, one of the companies re‐tubed with stainless steel. Now, the new No. 4 unit of the Duquesne Light Co. which will be completed next month includes a condenser containing 15,412 Type 304 stainless‐steel tubes, a large portion of which were supplied by Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, each having a life expectancy of 30 years. The overall condensing surface area is 105,000 sq. ft. Exhaust steam from the low‐pressure turbine is condensed and returned to the boiler where it is converted into high — pressure steam to run the 165,000‐kw. turbine generator. Approximately 90,000 gal./min. of river water are pumped through the two‐pass condenser, which is capable of condensing 850,000 lb./hr. An electronic tube roller is used to seal the ends of the tubes in tube sheets with stainless steel.