Performance of austenitic stainless steels in MSF desalination plant flash chambers in the arabian gulf
✍ Scribed by H. Saricimen; M. Shamim; I.M. Allam; M. Maslehuddin
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1990
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 725 KB
- Volume
- 78
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0011-9164
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✦ Synopsis
The corrosion behavior of AISI type 304L (304L (304L SS) and 316L (316L SS) stainless steels in a multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant located on the Arabian Gulf coast was investigated . The 304L and 316L stainless steel liner plates in the flash chambers of the plant developed severe localized corrosion within six years of operation . Liner plate samples retrieved from the floors of flash chambers were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopes .
The study showed that both 304L and 316L SS liner plates suffered severe intergranular, pitting and crevice corrosion . Corrosion was more severe at welds and heat affected zones (HAZs) . The main causes of corrosion were identified as (1) exposure of the liner plates to stagnant high chloride brine, and (2) grain growth and probably sensitization of the stainless steels at HAZ during welding and stress relieving heat treatment .