Corrosion In An Oil Refinery

CORROSION as an economic problem is growing rapidly in importance not only because it entails a replacement of corroded parts, but because it interrupts operation and causes hazards of damage and injury through failures of corroded equipment. Nearly all industries are interested in this subject. This paper, although concerned chiefly with corrosion in a complete refinery on the sea coast, discusses many of the various forms of chemical decomposition, most of which are found universally. The petroleum refining industry, in the writer's opinion, is seriously afflicted by the presence of sulfur in nearly all crude oils. The complete removal of sulfur from the crude as it enters the plant would cause such a relief from corrosion that this problem for research would seem to demand active attention. Next to sulfur the most troublesome corrosive agent is the saltmagnesium chloride, found in the water associated with crude oil, the last traces of which are so difficult to remove. This is much less serious, however, than the sulfur. Refinery corrosion can be tabulated as follows: Causes of Corrosion and Places of Attack in a Refinery CORROSIVE ELEMENTS MATERIAL ATTACKED Air: Pipe lines Moisture Tanks COQ Electric fixtures Sulfur gases Still towers Chlorine Condenser boxes Other acid-forming gases Ladders and stairs Smoke stacks Steel buildings All exposed metal Water: Alkali Fire lines and hydrants Acids Cooling water lines Air Condensers and coolers Other dissolved gases Boiler tubes Steam Steam pipes and valves Turbines Oil Sulfur compounds Tanks, pipes, valves, stills, towers MgCl2-Hydrochloric acid Condensers Air contamination