Evaluation of Wall Thinning Rate Due to Flow Accelerated Corrosion With the Coupled Models of Electrochemical Analysis and Double Oxide Layer Analysis

Systematic approaches for evaluating flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) are desired before discussing application of countermeasures for FAC. Future FAC occurrence should be evaluated to identify locations where a higher possibility of FAC occurrence exists, and then, wall thinning rate at the identified FAC occurrence zone should be evaluated to obtain the preparation time for applying countermeasures. Wall thinning rates were calculated with the coupled models of static electrochemical analysis and dynamic double oxide layer analysis. Anodic current density and electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) were calculated with the electrochemistry model based on an Evans diagram and ferrous ion release rate determined by the anodic current density was applied as input for the double oxide layer model. The thickness of oxide layer was calculated with the double oxide layer model. The dependences of mass transfer coefficients, oxygen concentrations ([O₂]), pH and temperature on wall thinning rates were calculated with the coupled model. It was confirmed that the calculated results of the coupled models resulted good agreement with the measured ones. The effects of candidates for countermeasures, e.g., optimization of N₂H₄ injection point into the feed water system, on FAC mitigation was demonstrated as a result of applying the model.