Evaluation of a Novel Top-of-the-Line Corrosion (TLC) Mitigation Method in a Large Scale Flow Loop

CATEGORY: CORROSION
NACE Corrosion 2013, Paper No. 2321
Evaluation of a Novel Top-of-the-Line Corrosion (TLC) Mitigation Method in a Large Scale Flow Loop
I. Jevremović, V. Mišković-Stanković
ijevremovic@tmf.bg.ac.rs
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade, Serbia
M. Achour
ConocoPhillips Company, Bartlesville, OK, USA
M. Singer, S. Nešić
Ohio University - Institute for Corrosion and Multiphase Technology, Athens, OH, USA
ABSTRACT
Innovative top-of-the-line corrosion (TLC) inhibition techniques are being investigated as an alternative to batch treatment. A novel idea consists of injecting the corrosion inhibitor within a foam matrix. Previously, a “proof of concept” validation of the novel TLC mitigation method was successfully conducted in a small scale laboratory setup.
This paper reports a study of foam characteristics: its consistency and stability in experiments conducted in a large scale flow loop, in order to simulate more realistic TLC conditions (including: flow, temperature, water condensation rate).The foam was generated pneumatically by sparging CO2 through the mixture of a foaming agent and a corrosion inhibitor. The foam was then injected into the flow loop, forming a dense plug which is pushed forward by the gas. This provided uniform delivery of the inhibitor to the inner pipe wall. Hydrodynamic tests in flow loop were performed in order to investigate the foam stability as a function of gas velocity as well as the effect of different foaming agent concentrations on the consistency and strength of the foam. Corrosion rate was monitored under condensing conditions using electrical resistance (ER) measurements. The TLC rate of mild steel, as measured in the wet gas flow using the ER probe, was reduced by periodic treatment using the optimized foam composition.
In this study, the foam was generated pneumatically by sparging CO2 trough the mixture of foaming agent and corrosion inhibitor. The foam was then injected into the flow loop piping forming a dense plug which was pushed forward by the gas. This method was designed to try and uniformly delivery of the inhibitor to the inner pipe wall. It should have consequently lead to formation of strong chemical bonds that would allow the product to remain on the pipe wall for long periods of time between treatments.11
The objective of the work described in this paper was to test the applicability of this novel TLC mitigation method in a large scale flow loop. Hydrodynamic tests in flow loop were performed in order to investigate the foam stability as a function of gas velocity as well as the effect of different foaming agent concentrations on the consistency and strength of the foam. Corrosion rate was monitored under condensing conditions using electrical resistance (ER) measurements.
Free Full Text Source: http://www.corrosioncenter.ohiou.edu/documents/NACE2013/NACE2013-Paper%202321_Jevremovic.pdf