Crude Distillation Unit—Distillation Tower Overhead System Corrosion

This report describes the associated corrosion mechanisms in refinery crude distillation unit (CDU) distillation tower overhead systems and current industry practices for mitigating or controlling this corrosion. Distillation towers in a typical CDU may include a preflash tower, an atmospheric tower, and a vacuum tower. Feedstock, unit configurations, and associated process variables are addressed, from the crude oil storage tanks to the distillation tower overhead drums. This report is intended as a technical resource for materials and corrosion specialists, process engineers, and operators at oil refining companies; chemical-treatment suppliers; and other companies involved in analyzing and preventing CDU distillation tower overhead corrosion.