Corrosion of fractionation towers in coal liquefaction plants
Severe corrosion has been observed in the fractionating towers at the Wilsonville, Alabama Advanced Coal Liquefaction Facility and at the Ft. Lewis, Washington Pilot Plant. At Wilsonville, the high corrosion rate of carbon and of types 304 and 316 stainless steel occurred when the facility was processing coal with 0.15 to 0.39 wt % chloride. This corrosion was most severe in the 440 to 485/sup 0/F (225 to 250/sup 0/C) boiling range. The analysis of scale on coupons immersed in the tower showed a high concentration of water-soluble chloride. The analysis of organic compounds in the tower liquids revealed a large amount of acid fractions like phenols and cresols, and basic fractions like aniline. During lab experiments with liquids rich in chlorides and acid and basic fractions, a high corrosion rate was observed. Absence of one or more of these fractions resulted in negligible corrosion. Based on these observations, it is concluded that when water-soluble chlorides, basic nitrogen compounds (basic fractions), and phenols (acid fractions) are simultaneously present in the coal liquids, they exhibit a synergism that results in high corrosivity. In order to reduce the corrosion to acceptable levels, it is recommended that 904L and 317 stainless steel be used as the material of construction for the fractionation tower. It is also recommended that a chloride removal scheme be employed; the scheme would combine removal of chlorides before they reach the tower and a small side draw from the tower. 14 references, 11 figures, 8 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-78OR03054
- OSTI ID:
- 6844713
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/OR/03054-52; ON: DE84013371
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Corrosion in SRC-I coal liquid distillation towers. SRC-I quarterly technical report, April-June 1981. Supplement
Distillation tower corrosion: synergistic effects of chlorine and phenolic compounds in coal liquids. Final report
Related Subjects
010405* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
AROMATICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON STEELS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUIDS
CORROSION
CORROSION INHIBITORS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
DATA
DIAGRAMS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOWSHEETS
FLUIDS
FRACTIONATION
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PILOT PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SODIUM CARBONATES
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SRC PROCESS
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEEL-316
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
SYNERGISM
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES