Impingement Corrosion of Condenser Tubes

Abstract

The problems of impingement corrosion of condenser tube materials are reviewed, with special reference to the power industry of the UK. The South Eastern Region of the Central Electricity Generating Board has set up a laboratory to study the corrosion behaviour inflowing sea water of metals used in power station cooling water systems. The jet impingement facilities of the laboratory are described and the results of recent work presented. These include the impingement characteristics of some standard condenser tube materials, the modification of these characteristics by such methods as cathodic protection and ferrous sulphate dosing of the sea water, and the resistance to impingement corrosion of some new materials. Particular attention is paid to titanium and its resistance to this form of corrosion.