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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Coal-liquefaction-plant fractionation-column corrosion-coupon studies

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5383961

Severe corrosion has been observed in fractionation columns at the Fort Lewis, Washington, and Wilsonville, Alabama, solvent refined coal pilot plants. This corrosion is most severe for materials exposed in the 220 to 260/sup 0/C (430 to 500/sup 0/F) range and results in corrosion rates of as much as 6.4 mm/y (250 mils/y) for type 18-8 stainless steels. Studies at ORNL of this corrosion problem include exposure of coupons in the columns, analysis of failed components from the pilot plants, chemical analyses of liquids from the pilot plants, and operation of laboratory experiments. This report describes the coupon exposure studies, gives the results of these studies, and discusses the selection of fractionation column materials on the basis of our experience. The studies show that several high-nickel alloys have corrosion rates of less than 0.25 mm/y (10 mils/y) and would be suitable in a fractionation column environment even if no process changes are made to reduce offending species such as chlorine.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5383961
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-7933; ON: DE82007469
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English