Effects, Evaluation and Corrosion of Heat Exchangers Performance in Seawater

Abstract

The durability of both aluminum and mild steel depends to a large extent on several factors prevailing in the operating environment. Among these factors are temperature and salinity. This paper therefore, investigates the impacts of temperatures and salt solutions on the corrosion rates of both aluminum and mild steel. The results obtained showed a significant effect of salt water and temperature as factors affecting the rate of corrosion. The results obtained as corrosion rates for aluminium at 35 o C ranges from 0.1862mmph - 0.2065 mmph and when the temperature rises to 65 o C, the range becomes 1.0567mmph - 1.994mmpy. Mild steel tested at 35 o C gives corrosion rates from 0.2145mmph - 0.5349 mmph while at 65 o C it ranged from 0.386mmph - 1.1771mmph. The results also proved that corrosion rates of these metal rise with decrease in salt (salinity) content as 0.05M NaCl concentration of the solution results to 0.1862mmph for aluminum and 0.2145mmph for mild steel at 35 o C and when the concentration of NaCl increases to 0.10M, the corrosion rates turned out to be 0.2065mmph for aluminum and 0.5349mmph for mild steel at same temperature. These results showed that temperature and salt content are two very significant properties needed to be paid attention to if corrosion is to be controlled.