Effect of chromium on the corrosion behaviour of low Cr-bearing alloy steel under an extremely high flow rate

Abstract

The effect of chromium on the corrosion behavior of low Cr-bearing alloy steel in a wet gas pipeline with a high flow rate was studied using a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) and self-built wet gas flow loop device. The results show that the addition of chromium in the steel can increase the flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) resistance of steel effectively. It was hard for pure FeCO₃ to deposit onto the carbon steel surface to form an intact corrosion film when the flow rate or wall shear stress was high. However, a mixture of Cr(OH)₃ and FeCO₃ can still be deposited onto the 3Cr steel surface and form an intact and protective corrosion film even under conditions with a 212 Pa wall shear stress in the wet gas pipeline.