Unexpected Impingement Corrosion of Aluminum Brass Condenser Tubes

Abstract

Some discussions about the mechanism of the unexpected severe impingement corrosion of condenser tubes were made in relation to hydrotalcite. It was elucidated experimentally that hydrotalcite is the initial corrosion product of Aluminum Brass in the natural sea water. Even if iron rich protective films are formed on hydrotalcite, they will be broken quite easily by the collision of foreign bodies with smaller energy in the sea water. This will increase the possibility of corrosion. The most important countermeasure is to supress the initial corrosion of condenser tubes by the effective ferrous ion dosing and to prevent hydrotalcite formation. It was pointed out that more attension should be paid to hydrotalcite from the standpoint of corrosion engineering of condenser tubes.