| Abstract: | Carbon steel is the traditional material for boiler flue gas ducts and stacks. The introduction of flue gas desulphurisation systems in existing power plant units requires major changes in the flue gas system from boilers to the flue stack. In the semidry spray absorption plant at Studstrupværk power plant carbon steel has been used. This concept was chosen to utilize part of the existing carbon steel ducting and avoid the use of expensive high alloyed materials and coating systems. During the first year of operation emission of fine flakes of rust from the ducting and the stack become a major problem. To overcome this, corrosion testings were performed in laboratory and in the plant. The corrosion problems were found to be related to an atmospheric corrosion with hygroscopic chloride containing deposits. The aim of the tests was to establish the critical humidity for corrosion of carbon steel in FGD plant products and deposits. The examinations cover products and deposits from different operational conditions and parts of the Studstrupværk power plant. The laboratory tests were followed by corrosion probe tests in the plant and full scale operation tests with the plant. The results of this programme showed that carbon steel can be used and corrosion can be kept at a very low level by controlling the humidity of the flue gas below 40% RH with fresh water as process water and down to 30% RH with salt water as process water. In practice this has to be controlled by the temperature difference between the flue gas and the adiabatic saturation temperature of the flue gas. Effective insulation of the ducting has been found to be of outmost importance as the humidity should be measured relative to the surface temperature. Experience from the plant shows that the most severe corrosion is found in cold spots. |
