Outokumpu Oy, Finland, reports that PVI Industries LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, has chosen Outokumpu’s proprietary lean duplex stainless steel grade LDX 2101 to replace carbon steel in its water heaters. Lean duplex has significantly reduced PVI’s waste stream and increased the useful life of its water heaters. PVI produces water heaters for large commercial end-users, and they can be as large as 11 m by 2 m, and can contain as much as 17,000 liters of water.
In 2009, PVI Industries built a water heater prototype of Outokumpu LDX 2101. The prototype went through an accelerated life testing equivalent of 30 years of normal life at highly elevated temperatures. Five years after development, the prototype is still operational. The useful life expectancy of carbon steel water heater tanks was five to fifteen years, depending on application. PVI now warranties standard duplex water heater tanks for up to 25 years.
Moving to duplex stainless steel also reduced PVI’s waste stream to nearly zero. The efforts were recognized on May 7, 2014 by the State of Texas at the 2014 Environmental Excellence Awards where PVI received the honor for Pollution Prevention.
