Severe corrosion has been encountered in fractionation columns at the solvent refined coal (SRC) pilot plants in Fort Lewis, Washington, and Wilsonville, Alabama, the H-Coal pilot plant in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and the Exxon Donor Solvent pilot plant in Baytown, Texas. Corrosion rates as high as 25 mm/y (1 in./y) on carbon steel and 6.4 mm/y (250 mils/y) on 18-8 stainless steels have been measured in the most severely corroded portions of the columns. Less severe corrosion is generally found at locations above and below this limited region of maximum corrosion. The severity of this corrosion appears to be related to the chlorine content of the coal. Studies of this corrosion problem by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) personnel included exposure of corrosion coupons in the pilot plant columns, analyses of liquids collected at the pilot plants, and performance of laboratory experiments. As a result of this work, we can specify alloys with adequate corrosion resistance for construction of fractionation columns, identify the chlorine-bearing compounds, and propose chlorine transport and corrosion mechanisms.

Subject
Corrosion resistant alloys, Stainless alloys, Corrosion rate, Nickel based alloys, Liquids, Chlorine, Coal, Monel alloys, Corrosion resistance, Stainless steel, Corrosion mechanisms, Chlorides, Oil
© 1982 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).
1982
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
You do not currently have access to this content.