Evaluación de la tasa de corrosión en tuberías de intercambiadores de calor ASTM A 106 Grado B con protección catódica operados con agua de mar

Abstract

The project focuses on evaluating the corrosion rate in heat exchanger pipes that use seawater to cool oil. These pipes, manufactured according to the ASTM A106 GRADE B standard and with a diameter of 2 inches, are installed in a plant within the water treatment and cooling systems area. The heat exchangers operate at a pressure of 66 psi and a service temperature ranging from 25 to 135 degrees Celsius, using unprocessed seawater as the cooling medium. It has been observed that the heat exchangers experience periodic changes due to corrosion in the tube bundle, as well as the presence of pitting in the tube bend area. In response to this issue, a cathodic protection methodology will be evaluated using a selection matrix (Valencia, 2021). To achieve this objective, periodic thickness measurements will be conducted on test specimens to assess the corrosion rate in two specimens, one with and one without cathodic protection. The results of this research could have significant implications for the selection of materials and corrosion protection methods in marine environments, thus contributing to the efficient operation and extended service life of the heat exchangers in the plant.