A large utility surface condenser, cooled by lake water, experienced massive failure during emergency shutdown due to sulfide-producing bacteria. Perforation of 20% of the stainless steel condenser tubes occurred within 6 to 8 weeks. Criteria for identifying conditions which are characteristic of this type of attack are provided, along with guidelines for investigating and preventing this attack on stainless steel condenser tubing. Analytical tools for identifying attack are detailed in case history. Unique method which permits operation without replacement of plugged tubes is discussed.

Subject
Pits, Water, Slime, Tubes, Drilling fluid, Magnification, Charts, Condensers, Corrosion attacks, Mechanical failure, Bacteria, Deposit corrosion, Stainless steel
© 1983 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1983
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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