High-Temperature Corrosion Studies in an Oil-Fired Laboratory Combustor

Interaction of sulfur oxides in the combustion gas with furnace elements has been recognized as the major contributor to corrosion and deposits in boilers and gas turbines. These interactions are of two kinds: (a) Catalysis, whereby furnace elements serve as catalytic surfaces to speed the formation of SO₃ from SO₂ and molecular oxygen, and (b) chemical reaction, whereby the sulfur oxides react chemically with the furnace elements or with deposits on the furnace elements. Catalysis was studied under boiler furnace conditions and the effects of metal composition, temperature, and various coating materials were examined. Some information was also obtained on chemical reactions of sulfur with bare and coated specimens.