Multi-million dollar decisions are often made based on laboratory corrosion test results that have been applied to the field using a scaling index of 1:1. The validity of applying this scaling factor to field conditions is questionable unless there is a proper interpretation of the laboratory test conditions with respect to the actual field conditions.

Fluid mechanics can be used to examine the apparent dichotomy that very often occurs between laboratory flow loop test results and field performance. Understanding the hydrodynamics of the two systems by means of dimensional analysis and flow similitude is essential in successfully identifying the appropriate limits and applicability of the laboratory test results to the field.

It is the intent of this paper to be a framework to assist in identifying the limits of laboratory testing and hydrodynamic modeling with respect to corrosion testing and not to promote one type of laboratory testing over the other types.

Subject
Field performance, Test methods, Inhibitor performance, Correlation, Flow loop, Corrosion rate, Laboratory data, Wall shear stress, Pipelines, Reynolds number, Hydrodynamics, Liquids, Corrosion inhibitors
Keywords:
corrosion modeling, Reynolds Number, wall shear stress, laboratory-field correlation
© 2006 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).
2006
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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