The systematic study of corrosion and oxygen control by chemical scavenging agents

Corrosion of metal components in electrical power generation boilers is a serious and expensive problem that is a major concern to manufacturers and electrical utility personnel. Lost production and large costs associated with component failures have created a tremendous research effort to help minimize corrosive attack. One particular area that has received considerable attention is control of dissolved oxygen concentrations in operational and idle boiler systems. Numerous products and treatment schemes have been developed that have provided reliable means to help reduce corrosion due to dissolved oxygen attack. An unanswered question, however, is to what degree these treatment methods control corrosion and which method offers the superior performance. In this research, an exhaustive comparative study was completed to ascertain the relative efficiencies of five commercially available scavenging agents in their control of dissolved oxygen and metal corrosion. Both laboratory and large-scale field studies were done to provide more conclusive information and to offer recommendations on various treatment schemes. The overall results showed that improved scavenging agents did reduce dissolved oxygen concentrations at more rapid rates and also helped minimize corrosion. However, based on the research findings, it appears to be questionable to invest more funds to gain the small benefits associated with use of improved scavenger agents. Determination of treatment selection should be done on a case-by-case basis evaluating costs versus benefits. Overall, it appeared that control of solution alkalinity and elimination of air/water interfaces was more important than the scavenger chosen for oxygen control.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• Hays, Robert Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cunningham, James R.
• College of Engineering and Computer Science

• Corrosion and anti-corrosives
• Steam-boilers Corrosion

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Identifier

LB2369.2 .H39 1986

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1627