The problems of corrosion and tower wood deterioration are commonly encountered in recirculation cooling water systems. At the Delhi Natural Gasolina Plant in Louisiana the concurrent presence of these two problems resulted in plugging of heat exchanger tubes and in high metal loss throughout the system. The corrosive potential of the water was aggravated by “fiber throw” in the water caused by serious deterioration of the tower wood. The “fiber throw” enmeshed with corrosion products created cell action which produced serious pitting and tuberculation.
A program of treating the water was undertaken both to minimize the attack of the wood and to prevent corrosion. Effectiveness of the treating program was followed by corrosion studies to evaluate the benefits of each step taken. Initially, rather high treatment concentrations were necessary to keep corrosion under control. But as the clean-up program to aid in freeing the system of corrosion products and fiber took effect, the corrosion load was reduced, which permitted good control of corrosion with normal treatment concentrations. 4.6.4
