Cavitation and corrosion

Cavitation-corrosion the wastage of metal caused by the combined action of cavitation and corrosion. 

The Carnot cycle is not a practical model for vapor power cycles because of cavitation and corrosion problems. The modified Carnot model for vapor power cycles is the basic Rankine cycle, which consists of two isobaric and two isentropic processes. The basic elements of the basic Rankine cycle are pump, boiler, turbine, and condenser. The Rankine cycle is the most popular heat engine to produce commercial power. The thermal cycle efficiency of the basic Rankine cycle can be improved by adding a superheater, regenerating, and reheater, among other means. 

These remarks evaluate the effect of filler-related phenomena on failure of plastic materials. Several reasons for the failure ofplastics are filler related. They include delamination of laminated composite materials, debonding in particulate filled materials, stress cracking of filler particles, yielding, cavitation, and corrosion. 

Unplanned stresses may result from vibrations causing cavitation and corrosion-fatigue problems that can be considerably reduced with the adoption of appropriate stiffeners and/or flexible connections (Figure 12.46). 

The housing elements, rotor, and stator are of spheroidal graphite iron or of material that is resistant to cavitation and corrosion. The shaft is of high-quality, heat-treatable steel and the shaft extensions are normally finished to DIN standards although other arrangements are possible. Oil is used as a lubricant for the bearings and radial-lip-type shaft seals or labyrinth seals are normally fitted. Mechanical end-face seals can be provided. 

Cavitation Formation of transient voids or vacuum bubbles in a liquid stream passing over a surface is called cavitation. This is often encountered arouna propellers, rudders, and struts and in pumps. When these bubbles collapse on a metal surface, there is a severe impact or explosive effec t that can cause considerable mechanical damage, and corrosion can be greatly accelerated because of the destruction of protective films. Redesign or a more resistant metal is generally required to avoid this problem. 

Whenever corrosion resistance results from the accumulation of layers of insoluble corrosion products on the metallic surface, the effect of high velocity may be either to prevent their normal formation or to remove them after they have been formed. Either effect allows corrosion to proceed unhindered. This occurs frequently in smaU-diameter tubes or pipes through which corrosive liquids may be circulated at high velocities (e.g., condenser and evaporator tubes), in the vicinity of oends in pipe hnes, and on propellers, agitators, and cen-trifiig pumps. Similar effects are associated with cavitation and impingement corrosion. 

Erosion and cavitation both can degrade materials simply by mechanical means or by combining the effects of mechanical deterioration and corrosion to produce a synergistic result. However, the mechanisms by which erosion and cavitation operate, and the resulting damage, are quite distinct. 

If the cavitation intensity is low and corrosion is a significant accelerating factor, appropriate inhibitors can be useful. Notable successes have been achieved with diesel engine cylinder liners. 

Vaporous cavitation can remove protective films, such as oxides, from metals and so initiate corrosion . In addition, the very high local pressures and temperatures associated with the final stage of cavity collapse can induce chemical reactions that would not normally occur. Thus certain additives are damaged by cavitation and their decomposition products can be corrosive. 

Applications Plasma spraying is used to apply coatings for protection against wear and corrosion, to prevent erosion or cavitations, and to provide electrical insulation or conductivity. It can also be employed to produce bearing surfaces, abrasive properties or resistance to wetting by molten metals. The coatings can also be applied to facilitate the joining of different materials. 

In considering these tests it should be remembered that the phenomenon of cavitation-erosion is often accompained by corrosion effects and that a synergistic effect may operate between the mechanically and chemically induced forms of attack. In fact the term cavitation-erosion-corrosion may often be more applicable in describing the requirements of a test procedure. The subject has recently been discussed by Wood etal. °. 

Feedwater supply duties include checking and recording the demand for FW makeup and maintaining correct FW temperatures to prevent risks of pump cavitation and boiler thermal shock. Periodically checking deaerator performance and inspecting the FW pumps and lines for any signs of fouling or corrosion is also required. 

The erosion effects of cavitation on solid surfaces have been extensively investigated both in terms of surface erosion [68] and corrosion [69]. The consequences of these effects on metal reactivity are important since passivating coatings are frequently present on a metal surface (e. g. oxides, carbonates and hydroxides) and can be removed by the impacts caused by collapsing cavitation bubbles. An illustration can be found with the activation of nickel powder and the determination of the change in its surface composition under the influence of cavitation by Auger spectroscopy (Fig. 3.6) [70]. 

CONTENTS Introduction to Series An Editor s Foreword, Albert Padwa. Introduction, Timothy J. Mason. Historical Introduction to Sonochemistry, D. Bremner. The Nature of Sonochemical Reactions and Sonoluminescence, M.A. Mar-guli. Influence of Ultrasound on Reactions with Metals, 6. Pugin and A.T. Turner. Ultrasonically Promoted Carbonyl Addition Reactions, J.L. Luche. Effect of Ultrasonically Induced Cavitation on Corrosion, W.J. Tomlinson. The Effects ... 

Wear impact plastic deformation makes some constituents more susceptible to corrosion. Cracks brittle constituents, tears apart ductile constituents to form sites for crevice corrosion, hydraulic splitting. Supplies kinetic energy to drive abrasion mechanism. Pressurizes mill water to cause splitting, cavitation, and jet erosion of metal and protective oxidized material. Pressurizes mill water and gases to produce unknown temperatures, phases changes, and decomposition or reaction products from ore and water constituents. Heats ball metal, ore, fluids to increase corrosive effects. 

Mechanically assisted degradation can consist of the following types of corrosion erosion-corrosion, water drop impingement corrosion, cavitation erosion, erosive and corrosive wear, fretting corrosion, and corrosion fatigue (CF) (Fig. 1.14). Erosion-corrosion consists of the corrosion process enhanced by erosion or wear. Fretting corrosion consists of the wear process enhanced by corrosion. CF consists of the combined action of fluctuating or cyclic stress and a corrosive environment. 

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