Hydrazine as an oxygen scavenger has been widely used for the feed water treatment of PWR secondary side and fossil power plants in the world. However, there is some concern over health and safety issues related to use of hydrazine. Carbohydrazide is listed up as one of alternative oxygen scavengers. In this study, laboratory tests were performed to examine the thermal decomposition rate of carbohydmzide and its reducing effect on carbon steel corrosion in comparison with hydrazine. Test results revealed that carbohydrazide was stable below 373K. The thermal decomposition ratios of carbohydrazide were less than 50% after 20 minutes exposure in the range of 373K to 428K. Its thermal decomposition rate constant was derived from experimental test data. The measurement of dissolved oxygen concentration also showed thatcarbohydrazide possessed a fairly good oxygen scavenger property. Judging from test results mentioned above, it was concluded that carbohydmzide is applicable as an alternative oxygen scavenger for feedwater treatment in PWR and fossil power plant.
Keywords: carbohydrazide, hydrazinc, PWR, carbon steel, oxygen scavenger, thermal decomposition rate, corrosion potential, reducing effect.