After ten years of successful operation, a hot potassium carbonate CO2 removal plant experienced severe corrosion to the 2" (50 mm) thick carbon steel absorber process vessel over a fourteen month period. This corrosive attack resulted in complete penetration on three separate occasions. Although the cause of this corrosion is still uncertain, it appears to be the result of decreasing strength of the vanadium pentoxide inhibitor, due to increasing concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in the feed gas. After extensive research, Chevron believes that stainless steel metallurgy or replacement of the hot potassium carbonate process are the only reliable long-term solutions.

Subject
Pits, Perforation, Walls, Vanadium, Potassium, Repair, Corrosion inhibitors, Pitting, Carbon dioxide, Carbon steel, Stainless steel, Lining, Weld metal
© 1987 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).
1987
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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