Corrosion of copper base alloys in a geothermal brine. SPE Paper No. 7881

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6531699

Miller, R L

The geothermal environment and the experimental procedures and schedules for corrosion tests of copper-base alloys are described. Corrosive attack on these materials was mostly uniform. Some selective leaching of alloying elements was observed, as was crevice corrosion, but the extent of these forms of corrosion was minor. The results of these tests show a trend toward higher corrosion rates with increasing copper content, for the brass alloys. Commercially pure copper, however, showed corrosion rates 20 to 30% of that suggested by the trend in the data. One copper--nickel alloy was tested to verify earlier test data; this alloy showed a corrosion rate about six times that of a brass of similar copper content. The primary agent of the corrosive attack was hydrogen sulfide, present in the water in trace amounts. The primary conclusion from these tests is that copper--zinc alloys are the most economical materials for boiler and preheater construction. The recommendation is made that materials be selected from these brasses: naval brass, yellow brass, admiralty brass, and copper, in this order of decreasing desirability. Aluminum brass and red brass are marginally acceptable. Copper--nickel alloys are unacceptable for boiler and preheater heat exchangers.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-07-1570
• OSTI ID: 6531699
• Report Number(s): CONF-790108-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150903* -- Geothermal Engineering-- Corrosion
Scaling & Materials Development
ALLOYS
BOILERS
BRASS
BRINES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
CORROSION
CORROSIVE EFFECTS
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
Geothermal Legacy
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
LEACHING
METALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZINC ALLOYS