Application of numerical simulation to flow‐induced corrosion in flowing seawater systems

Abstract

Purpose

To study flow‐induced corrosion mechanisms for carbon steel in high velocity flowing seawater and explain corrosive phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

An overall mathematical model for flow‐induced corrosion of carbon steel in high velocity flow seawater was established in rotating disk apparatus using both numerical simulation and test methods. By studying the impact of turbulent flow using the kinetic energy of turbulent approach and the effects of the computational near‐wall hydrodynamic parameters on corrosion rates, corrosion behaviour and mechanism are discussed here. It is applicable to deeply understand the synergistic effect mechanism of flow‐induced corrosion.

Findings

It is scientific and reasonable to investigate carbon steel corrosion through correlation of the near‐wall hydrodynamic parameters, which can accurately describe the influence of fluid flow on corrosion. The computational corrosion rates obtained by this model are in agreement with measured corrosion data. It is shown that serious flow‐induced corrosion is caused by the synergistic effect between corrosion electrochemical factor and hydrodynamic factor. While corrosion electrochemical factor plays a dominant role in flow‐induced corrosion.

Originality/value

The corrosion kinetics and mechanism of metals in high velocity flowing medium is discussed in this paper. These results will help someone who is interested in flow‐induced corrosion to understand in depth the type of issue.

Citation

Liu, J., Lin, Y. and Li, X. (2005), "Application of numerical simulation to flow‐induced corrosion in flowing seawater systems", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 52 No. 5, pp. 276-279. https://doi.org/10.1108/00035590510615767