Standard Guide for Corrosion Monitoring in Laboratories and Plants with Coupled Multielectrode Array Sensor Method

Importancia y uso:

4.1 Guide G96 describes a linear-polarization method and an electrical resistance method for online monitoring of corrosion in plant equipment without the need to enter the system physically to withdraw coupons. These two online monitoring techniques are useful in systems in which process upsets or other problems can create corrosive conditions. An early warning of corrosive attack can permit remedial action before significant damage occurs to process equipment. The two methods described in Guide G96 are suitable for uniform corrosion, but may not be sensitive enough for non-uniform corrosion, especially localized corrosion. This guide describes a new method for monitoring non-uniform corrosion, especially localized corrosion.

4.2 The CMAS technique measures the net anodic current or net cathodic current from each of the individual electrodes (I^a_ex or I^c_ex in Fig. 1), which is the characteristic of non-uniform corrosion such as localized corrosion and uneven general corrosion. Therefore, the CMAS technique can be used to estimate the rate of uneven general corrosion and localized corrosion (see Section 5).

FIG. 1 Principle of CMAS Probe

Note 1: The upper section shows the electron flows from the corroding area to the less corroding areas inside a metal when localized corrosion takes place; the lower section shows the electron flows after the anodic and cathodic areas are separated into individual small electrodes and coupled through an external circuit that measures the anodic current (I^a_ex) and cathodic current (I^c_ex) through each of the individual electrodes (4).

4.3 Unlike uniform corrosion, the rate of non-uniform corrosion, especially localized corrosion, can vary significantly from one area to another area of the same metal exposed to the same environment. Allowance shall be made for such variations when the measured non-uniform corrosion rate is used to estimate the penetration of the actual metal structure or the actual wall of process equipment. This variability is less critical when relative changes in corrosion rate are to be detected, for example, to track the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors in an inhibited system.

4.4 The same as the method described in Guide G96, the CMAS technique described in this guide provides a technique for determining corrosion rates without the need to enter the system physically to withdraw coupons as required by the methods described in Guide G4.

4.5 The same as the methods described in Guide G96, the CMAS technique is useful in systems in which process upsets or other problems can create corrosive conditions. An early warning of corrosive attack can permit remedial action before significant damage occurs to process equipment.

4.6 The CMAS technique provides the instantaneous corrosion rate within 10 s to 40 s making it suitable for automatic corrosion inhibitor dosing control.

4.7 The CMAS technique is an online technique and may be used to provide real-time measurements for internal corrosion of pipelines and process vessels, external corrosion of buried pipes and structures, and atmospheric corrosion of metal structures.

Subcomité:

G01.11

Volúmen:

03.02

Número ICS:

19.040 (Environmental testing)

Palabras clave:

CMAS; corrosion monitoring; coupled multielectrode; coupled multielectrode array sensor; crevice corrosion; localized corrosion monitoring; on-line corrosion monitoring; pitting corrosion;