Failure Analysis on Localized Corrosion of Heat Transport Pipe in District Heating System

Abstract

In this study, a corrosion failure analysis of a heat transport pipe was conducted, as the result of a pinhole leak. Interestingly, the corrosion damage occurred externally in the pipeline, resulting in severe thickness reduction near the seam line. Also, while a stable magnetite protective film formed on the inner surface, the manganese oxide formation occurred only on the outer surface. The interior and exterior of the pipe were composed of ferrite and pearlite. The large manganese sulfide and alumina inclusions were found near the seam line. In addition, the manganese sulfide inclusions resulted in grooving corrosion, which progressed in the seam line leading to the reduction in the thickness, followed by the exposure of the alumina in the matrix to the outer surface. To note, the corrosion was accelerated by pits generated from the boundaries separating the inclusions from the matrix, which resulted in pinhole leaks and water loss.