Performance of materials used for the venting system in WED's desalination plants (MSF)

Abstract

The removal of non-condensable gasses (nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide) is vital for the successful operation of all thermal desalination plants. Every plant is equipped with means for removing them. However, the majority of MSF evaporators use steam ejector connected to a condenser to release them. The nature of these gases is very aggressive because the Arabian Gulf water contains in addition to nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, the bromine gas [3–6] which can cause severe localized corrosion problems with conventional stainless steels. Such corrosion had been reported in some MSF plants [1–2]. The present investigation surveys the performance of different materials used for venting systems over the last 15 years in WED's MSF plants in different places in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.