51313-02321-Evaluation of the Novel Top of the Line Corrosion Mitigation Method in Flow Loop

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Product Number: 51313-02321-SG

ISBN: 02321 2013 CP

Author: Marc Singer

Publication Date: 2013

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Top of Line Corrosion (TLC) occurs in multiphase flow where significant water vapor condensation takes place driven by the heat exchange between the pipe and its surrounding. This would lead severe corrosion attack that is difficult to mitigate. TLC is usually related with higher condensation rates typical for partially or entirely failed thermal insulation of the pipeline.
Innovative inhibition techniques are being investigated as an alternative to batch treatment. A novel idea consists of injecting the corrosion inhibitor within a foam matrix.
A “proof of concept” validation of the novel TLC mitigation method was successfully conducted in a small scale laboratory setup and the results were presented at NACE 2012.

In this paper the foam characteristics (consistency stability …) are further studied and experiments are conducted in a large scale flow loop in order to simulate more realistic Top of the Line Corrosion conditions (flow temperature water condensation rate).
The foam is generated pneumatically by sparging CO2 trough the mixture of foaming agent and corrosion inhibitor. The foam is then injected inside the pipe system of the flow loop forming a dense plug which is carried with the gas. This provided homogeneous delivery of the inhibitor on the inner pipe wall.
Hydrodynamic tests in flow loop are performed in order to investigate foam stability as a function of gas velocity as well as the effect of different foaming agent concentrations on the consistency and strength of the foam. Corrosion rate is monitored under dewing conditions using electrical resistance (ER) measurements. The TLC rate of mild steel as measured in the vapor phase using the ER probe is reduced by periodic treatment by the optimized foam containing a corrosion inhibitor.