Corrosion and Protection Status in Several Chinese Refineries Processing High-Acid Crude Oil

Corrosion and Protection Status in Several Chinese Refineries Processing High-Acid Crude Oil

Type	Book Section
Author	Chunlei Liang
Author	Xuedong Chen
URL	http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09507-3_132
Series	Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering
Pages	1549-1560
Date	2015/01/01
Abstract	Authors review naphthenic acid corrosion and corrosion protection status in several Chinese refineries processing high-acid crude oil, including material selection and corrosion monitoring methods. The processing experiences reveal that the most severely corroded parts when processing high-acid crude oil occurred in the vacuum column and transfer line. In one refinery, vacuum tower wall, tower packing and transfer line with SS316L were corroded after a mere three years’ operation. These had to be upgraded to SS317L, and the use of corrosion inhibitor to enhance corrosion protection. In another refinery, many high temperature heat exchangers made of carbon steel in the distillation unit were found to be severely corroded. In a third refinery, the atmospheric transfer line with SS321 material had a corrosion rate of 0.3 mm/year, discovered with the fixed-point thickness measurement. It was upgraded to SS316L. From these processing experiences, it is evident that selecting SS18-8, SS316L or even SS317L is necessary when processing high-acid crude oil.
Book Title	Engineering Asset Management - Systems, Professional Practices and Certification