Piping corrosion

Corrosion involving nonoxidizing acids can be highly sensitive to flow. Thus regions of high flow and turbulence are often more severely attacked than more quiescent regions. Weirs, lips, and other flow obstructions increase turbulence and thus corrosion. Pipe elbows, tees, and joints are frequently attacked. Outer curves at pipe bends often are more severely wasted than inner bends. 

Corrosion- Pipe and tank in chemical plants. ASTM, API, NACE, AWWA, Chemical Plant And Petroleum Refinery Code. 

Erosion-corrosion (flow accelerated corrosion) Piping components Thinning rate for materials of concern in the specific suspected areas of piping... 

BP Chemicals Ltd Dow/Innovene gas phase (locations for HDPE production Lavera (France), Grangemouth (UK), locations for LLDPE production Grangemouth (UK)) Rigidex, Novex (LDPE), Eltex Tux 100 PE for corrosive pipe applications, thin walls for 16% weight saving. 

The presence of these acids in crude oils and petroleum cuts causes problems for the refiner because they form stable emulsions with caustic solutions during desalting or in lubricating oil production very corrosive at high temperatures (350-400°C), they attack ordinary carbon steel, which necessitates the use of alloy piping materials. 

CO2 corrosion often occurs at points where there is turbulent flow, such as In production tubing, piping and separators. The problem can be reduced it there is little or no water present. The initial rates of corrosion are generally independent of the type of carbon steel, and chrome alloy steels or duplex stainless steels (chrome and nickel alloy) are required to reduce the rate of corrosion. 

If produced gas contains water vapour it may have to be dried (dehydrated). Water condensation in the process facilities can lead to hydrate formation and may cause corrosion (pipelines are particularly vulnerable) in the presence of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Hydrates are formed by physical bonding between water and the lighter components in natural gas. They can plug pipes and process equipment. Charts such as the one below are available to predict when hydrate formation may become a problem. 

Inspection of frame equipment and pipe - lines for the presence of the fatigue, hardening, and other cracks, corrosion. 

The corrosion inspection and wall thickness measurement of pipes was performed in the classical way both on film and on the monitor using simple software measuring tools. Additionally algorithms were developed for an interactive, computer supported evaluation. 

Projection radiography is widely used for pipe inspection and corrosion monitoring. Film digitisation allows a direct access to the local density variations by computer software. Following to a calibration step an interactive estimation of local wall thickness change based on the obtained density variation is possible. The theoretical model is discussed, the limitations of the application range are shown and examples of the practical use are given. The accuracy of this method is compared to results from wall thickness measurements with ultrasonic devices. 

Projection radiography has long been used for pipe inspection and corrosion monitoring. In this traditional tangential wall thickness estimation the distance of border lines of the projected wall shadows of a pipe onto the film is a direct measure for the wall thickness. This method is not considered here, newer developments can be found in / /. 

Practical applications of the presented algorithm has been done on corrosion monitoring in the pipe system of a power plant. These examples were obtained from a reducing pipe fitting after... 

In fig, 4 local corrosion by erosion is shown in a pipe with a bore of 100 mm behind a welding. In this case only the nominal wall thickness of the pipe is known (6.3 mm). To calibrate the obtained density changes into wall thickness changes a step wedge exposure with a nominal wall thickness of 13 mm (double wall penetration in the pipe exposure) and the same source / film system combination was used. From this a pcff = 1-30 1/cm can be expected which is used for the wall thickness estimation of the pipe image according to equation (4). 

Fig. 4 Corrosion inside a pipe (bore 100 mm, wall thickness 6.3 mm), projection technique at 160 kV (double wall penetration), profile plot with calibrated wall thickness loss...

Examples will cover maintenance inspection such as corrosion detection in piping and tanks, but also routine weld inspection. The need for acceptance criteria for weld defects adapted for modern NDT techniques will be highlighted, because these form (in many cases) the key to benefit. 

LORUS is also used for inspection of piping that has been on supports or sleepers for some time, to see whether corrosion has developed at the contact points. But the technique can also be used for corrosion detection under insulation, inspection of pipelines at dike and road crossings, nozzle reinforcement pads or craek detection in suspension systems for railway cars. 

Phosphorus is also important in the production of steels, phosphor bronze, and many other products. Trisodium phosphate is important as a cleaning agent, as a water softener, and for preventing boiler scale and corrosion of pipes and boiler tubes. 

Lead is a bluish-white metal of bright luster, is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to corrosion lead pipes bearing the insignia of Roman emperors, used as drains from the baths, are still in service. It is used in containers for corrosive liquids (such as sulfuric acid) and may be toughened by the addition of a small percentage of antimony or other metals. 

Corrosion Resistant Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP). Fiber glass reinforcement bonded with furfuryl alcohol thermosetting resias provides plastics with unique properties. Excellent resistance to corrosion and heat distortion coupled with low flame spread and low smoke emission are characteristics that make them valuable as laminating resins with fiber glass (75,76). Another valuable property of furan FRP is its strength at elevated temperature. Hand-layup, spray-up, and filament-win ding techniques are employed to produce an array of corrosion-resistant equipment, pipes, tanks, vats, ducts, scmbbers, stacks, and reaction vessels for industrial appHcations throughout the world. 

Steel is an acceptable material of constmction for handling solutions of up to 50% NaOH below 40°C. Above 40°C the steel corrosion rate increases rapidly and iron is picked up in the solution. Materials for handling 50% NaOH are lined steel for tank cars and lined or unlined steel for tanks and piping. 

A.m blent Environment. The environment around the flow conduit must be considered in meter selection. Such factors as the ambient temperature and humidity, the pipe shock and vibration levels, the avadabiHty of electric power, and the corrosive and explosive characteristics of the environment may all influence flow meter selection. Special factors such as possible accidental flooding, the need for hosedown or steam cleaning, and the possibiHty of lightning or power transients may also need to be evaluated. 

The vessel, as weU as the wick, must be compatible with the working fluid. Where possible, the wick and vessel are made of the same material to avoid the formation of galvanic corrosion ceUs in which the working fluid can serve as the electrolyte. In addition to its role within the heat pipe, the vessel also serves as the interface with the heat source and the heat sink. 

Heat/Solvent Recovery. The primary appHcation of heat pipes in the chemical industry is for combustion air preheat on various types of process furnaces which simultaneously increases furnace efficiency and throughput and conserves fuel. Advantages include modular design, isothermal tube temperature eliminating cold corner corrosion, high thermal effectiveness, high reHabiHty and options for removable tubes, alternative materials and arrangements, and replacement or add-on sections for increased performance (see Furnaces, fuel-FIREd). 

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