Investigation studies of vapor side corrosion in a multistage flash desalination pilot plant

Abstract

Vapor side corrosion (VSC) is one among different forms of corrosion encountered in multistage flash desalination (MSF). Vapor side corrosion is generally provoked and enhanced due to the presence of CO2′, O2 and other non-condensable gases. Vapor side corrosion exhibits a major problem in both acid as well as additive dosed MSF plants. Although VSC has been reported by many workers in desalination field, only few studies were carried out in laboratory simulating real plant environment. The impact of vapor side environment on the corrosion rate of two commonly used materials of construction Cu-Ni 70/30 and Cu-Ni 90/10 was investigated at three levels of study through research program at an MSF actual plant, MSF pilot plant and in bench scale experimental up. This paper reports the studies carried out at an MSF pilot plant with capacity 20 m3/d located at SWCC Al Jubail (SWDRI) by exposing Cu-Ni 70/30 and Cu-Ni 90/10 at four different top brine temperatures employed usually in MSF plants (90°C, 100°C,110°C...