Coupon Holder For Corrosion Measurement

PATENT
Coupon Holder For Corrosion Measurement
United States Patent Application 20120074969
Inventors:
Snelling, Ricky Eugene (Tulsa, OK, US)
Engelbert, Donald Ray (Copan, OK, US)
Application Number: 13/236260
Publication Date: 03/29/2012
Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY (Houston, TX, US)
Abstract
A non-metallic coupon holder assembly comprising a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders. The pluralities of coupon holders are disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure wherein the pluralities of coupon holders are designed to secure a metal coupon on at least two edges.
TECHNICAL FIELD
An apparatus for eliminating galvanic corrosion, random positioning of coupons, and variable coupon motion in corrosion measurement experiments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Corrosion is a constant problem in the design, operation and maintenance of refineries, petrochemical plants and gas processing facilities. In an effort to understand the effects of corrosion, corrosion measurement experiments are performed on various metals and other materials in the presence of hydrocarbon fluids. However, traditional corrosion experiments fail to address potential pitfalls in the experimental apparatus for measuring corrosion. These design defects contribute to the corrosion measurements and cause significant experimental errors in the corrosion data. The experimental errors include galvanic corrosion due to metal to metal contact points on coupons, and corrosion enhancement (or inhibition) due to random positioning of coupons in the stirred reaction fluid and/or physical movement of coupons in the hydrocarbon fluid. These errors, when applied to hydrocarbon process design, can interfere with and can result in the selection of more costly corrosion resistant materials for processing equipment.

Accordingly, a coupon holder is needed to eliminate holder-related galvanic corrosion, random positioning of coupons, and variable coupon motion in corrosion measurement experiments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A non-metallic coupon holder assembly comprising a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders. The pluralities of coupon holders are disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure wherein the pluralities of coupon holders are designed to secure a metal coupon on at least two edges.

In an alternate embodiment the apparatus also discloses a non-metallic coupon holder assembly made of quartz. The non-metallic coupon holder assembly has a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure. The plurality of coupon holders are evenly spaced along the non-metallic support structure and are designed to secure both the top edge of the metal coupon and the bottom edge of the metal coupon. The coupon holders are also designed to have a pair of ridges spaced evenly apart at a distance capable of accommodating the thickness of the metal coupon. In this embodiment the non-metallic coupon holder assembly is also multi-level with a plurality of coupon holders disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure on each level.

In yet another embodiment a method is taught that inserts a metal coupon into a non-metallic coupon holder assembly. The non-metallic coupon holder assembly comprises a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders. The pluralities of coupon holders are disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure wherein the pluralities of coupon holders are designed to secure a metal coupon on at least two edges.

The metal coupon is then subjecting to a corrosion test for a specified period of time. A corrosion rate of the metal coupon is then measured by calculating the weight loss of the metal coupon over the specified period of time.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent as reference is made to the following detailed description, preferred embodiments, and examples, given for the purpose of disclosure, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2012/0074969.html