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Comparison of the rotating cylinder and pipe flow tests for flow-sensitive carbon dioxide corrosion

Journal Article · · Corrosion
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/1.3293555· OSTI ID:131410
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Inst. for Energiteknikk, Kjeller (Norway)
  2. Statoil, Trondheim (Norway)

The effects of various hydrodynamic parameters on the corrosion rate of low-carbon steel in carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) environments were studied. Tow different flow geometries, rotating cylinder (RC) and pipe flow, were studied simultaneously in the same electrolyte within a glass loop. Comparisons were made over a wide range of parameters: temperature (T) = 20 C to 80 C, pH = 4 to 6, CO{sub 2} partial pressure (P{sub CO{sub 2}}) = 0 bar to 1 bar (0 kPa to 100 kPa), velocity ({nu}) = 0 m/s to 13 m/s. The hydrodynamic conditions studied covered the range from static to highly turbulent flow. The corrosion process was monitored using polarization resistance, potentiodynamic sweep, and electrochemical impedance methods. The comparison of the two flow geometries was carried out in terms of hydrodynamics, mass transfer, and CO{sub 2} corrosion. The measured mass transfer rates agreed well with published correlations for the RC and straight pipe (SP) flow. In the case of CO{sub 2} corrosion, it was possible to achieve good agreement between corrosion rates in the two flow geometries at low temperatures by having the same water chemistry and mass-transfer conditions. This conclusion was valid for cases where no protective corrosion products, scale, or inhibitor films were present. However, at higher temperatures, films with a certain degree of protectiveness were observed. In those cases, lower corrosion rates were obtained on the SP specimen because of more dense and protective films.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
131410
Journal Information:
Corrosion, Journal Name: Corrosion Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 51; ISSN 0010-9312; ISSN CORRAK
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English