Flow-Accelerated Corrosion in Industrial Steam and Power Plants, 1997 Engineering Conference Proceedings

Flow-Accelerated Corrosion is a phenomenon which causes wall thinning of piping, fittings, vessels, and equipment in carbon steel systems that carry wet steam or water. The wall thinning can and has resulted in catastrophic failures of high energy piping systems. Based on research sponsored by the electric utility industry, the parameters influencing Flow-Accelerated Corrosion have been identified. As a result, many of the nation’s power plants have implemented programs using guidelines and modeling tools to predict FAC-induced wear and to inspect susceptible piping components during scheduled outages. While the piping systems of industrial power and steam plants may not be as extensive as those in electric utility plants, they include many of the same systems - condensate, feedwater, and extraction steam - which have been found to be susceptible to Flow-Accelerated Corrosion in the large utility plants. In fact, some industries such as Pulp and Paper have additional susceptible systems that are not found in electric utility generating stations.

This paper addresses the phenomenon, the consequences of Flow-Accelerated Corrosion induced piping failures, susceptible systems and components, and the elements of a successful Flow-Accelerated Corrosion program.