Corrosion Monitoring
Encyclopedia
A corrosion monitoring program provides comprehensive monitoring of all critical components of industrial objects, assets, facilities and plants for signs of corrosion
. For reliable operation it is important to identify the location, rate, and underlying causes of corrosion. A corrosion monitoring program identifies any non-conforming alloy
components, as these are generally susceptible to accelerated corrosion and can give relatively frequent cause for catastrophic failure. Corrosion Monitoring can provide significant advantages when integrated into both preventative maintenance and the processes inherent to safety management programs. Based on the results of the Corrosion Monitoring program, informed decisions can be made, not only regarding the remaining life of the object affected by corrosion but also regarding life extension strategies, prospective material selection, and cost-effective methods for remedy of corrosion issues and problems.
is a major problem in many industries, particularly in the petrochemical
industry. Corrosion is one of the most serious ageing mechanisms impacting the equipment and assets of refineries and plants. Uncontrolled corrosion can cause leaks and component failures, bringing about a reduction in both the performance and reliability of important equipment. In extreme cases, corrosion can lead to unexpected failures that can be costly in terms of repair costs, environmental damage and potential harm to humans.
The selection of the appropriate method as well as the detection and monitoring of corrosion requires knowledgeable and experienced personnel.
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
. For reliable operation it is important to identify the location, rate, and underlying causes of corrosion. A corrosion monitoring program identifies any non-conforming alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
components, as these are generally susceptible to accelerated corrosion and can give relatively frequent cause for catastrophic failure. Corrosion Monitoring can provide significant advantages when integrated into both preventative maintenance and the processes inherent to safety management programs. Based on the results of the Corrosion Monitoring program, informed decisions can be made, not only regarding the remaining life of the object affected by corrosion but also regarding life extension strategies, prospective material selection, and cost-effective methods for remedy of corrosion issues and problems.
Activities
An effective corrosion monitoring program includes a wide range of activities:- Identification of all critical components
- Identification of component alloy composition
- Measurement of the location and extent of corrosion
- Prediction of remaining life
- Identification of failure mechanisms
- Determination of fitness for service condition
- Inspection scheduling
- Development of recommendations for remedy and correction of problems
- Development of corrosion prevention strategies
Why Monitor Corrosion
CorrosionCorrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
is a major problem in many industries, particularly in the petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
industry. Corrosion is one of the most serious ageing mechanisms impacting the equipment and assets of refineries and plants. Uncontrolled corrosion can cause leaks and component failures, bringing about a reduction in both the performance and reliability of important equipment. In extreme cases, corrosion can lead to unexpected failures that can be costly in terms of repair costs, environmental damage and potential harm to humans.
Methods
Corrosion Monitoring uses a wide range of measurement techniques. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods are the most effective and broadly applied testing methods. Suitable NDT methods for the monitoring of corrosion include:- Ultrasonic Testing
- Radiographic TestingRadiographic testingRadiographic Testing , or industrial radiography, is a nondestructive testing method of inspecting materials for hidden flaws by using the ability of short wavelength electromagnetic radiation to penetrate various materials.Either an X-ray machine or a radioactive source can be used as a source...
- Guided Wave TestingGuided wave testingGuided Wave testing is one of latest methods in the field ofnon-destructive evaluation. The methodemploys mechanical stress waves that propagate along an elongatedstructure while guided by its boundaries. This allows the...
- Electromagnetic TestingElectromagnetic testingElectromagnetic Testing , as a form of nondestructive testing, is the process of inducing electric currents or magnetic fields or both inside a test object and observing the electromagnetic response...
The selection of the appropriate method as well as the detection and monitoring of corrosion requires knowledgeable and experienced personnel.
External links
- Corrosion Monitoring Instruments
- Prediction and Real-time Monitoring Techniques for Corrosion Characterisation in Furnaces
- NDT-Techniques for Corrosion Monitoring and Fracture Detection of Prestressed Concrete Structures
- Oil Gas Subsea Corrosion Monitoring - Cormon Last accessed: Nov-11
- Oil Gas Subsea Corrosion Monitoring - Corrocean Last accessed: Nov-11