Failure Analysis of Corrosion Test Coupons and a Failed Tube From an Ethanol Vaporizer

Costly production losses at a production plant from failed ethanol vaporizers prompted further investigation into the cause of failure. Three corrosion test coupons from a vaporizer and a leaking tube from a second vaporizer were examined for evidence of corrosion damage and for the cause of damage.

Results suggest that sulfur in the water component of the product was a contributing cause of the corrosion in each case.