Crude unit overhead systems contain complex mixtures of hydrocarbon, water, and various ionic species, which under the right set of conditions, can cause aggressive corrosion. Understanding the corrosion characteristics of the system is further complicated because the composition and phase behavior of the overhead stream is also changing rapidly as it is being condensed. Ionic modeling has been used to better understand the rapidly changing phase behavior in this system and to shed light on some factors which may influence corrosion. Ionic modeling of a crude unit overhead system predicts the formation of a concentrated "salty water" phase that precedes the formation of a bulk water phase. The formation of this concentrated solution may help explain the aggressive corrosion characteristics of some amine hydrochloride salts in crude unit overhead systems. Additionally the presence of small quantities of tramp amines may influence the salt formation characteristics and phase behavior of the system.

Subject
Acids, Salt formation, Amine hydrochloride, Water, Modeling, Salts, Solids, Water dew, Acidity, Liquids, Amines, Crude units, Hydrocarbons
Keywords:
Crude unit, overhead, corrosion, amines, amine-hydrochloride salts, ionic modeling, water dew point, salty water phase, salt point
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2012
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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