Description

Mechanism

This type of fire-side damage occurs when sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the flue gas oxidizes to sulfur trioxide (SO3) and the SO3 combines with moisture to form sulfuric acid. If the temperatures are at or below the acid dewpoint so that the sulfuric acid condenses, then tube metal corrosion occurs. The temperature at which condensate first forms depends on a number of factors, including the partial pressures of SO3 and water vapor in the flue gas, and is usually around 250 to 300°F.

Several factors can influence the formation of acid dewpoint corrosion including excess oxygen, fuel firing, moisture levels, surface temperatures, and air in-leakage. The higher the level of excess oxygen in the combustion process, the more SO2 that will be converted to SO3 and the higher the acid dewpoint temperature. In addition to excess oxygen, other fireside conditions such as furnace design, furnace temperature, firing conditions, and burner performance will all affect the production of SO3. For example, staged combustion, used to control NOx, can increase excess air and the amount of SO3 produced. Air in-leakage can provide excess oxygen and cooling effects (lower temperatures).

Typical Locations

• Areas where temperatures are below the acid dewpoint temperature.
• Not generally a concern for conventional unit boiler tubes; could occur in economizers if operating temperatures fall below the acid dewpoint temperature.
• For HRSGs: economizers, preheater tubes.

Features

• Fireside/gas-side mechanism
• Gouged or orange-peel appearance beneath deposits
• In conventional units, the final failure occurs by wall thinning so a fracture will appear thin-edged, transgranular, and ductile
• In an HRSG, the affected tubing is at low pressure so failures are primarily pinhole leaks

Root Causes

While acid dewpoint corrosion is generally more of a concern for air heaters and the duct work to the stack in conventional units, it can occur in the economizer. Root causes include tube temperatures below the acid dewpoint, fuel and operating practices causing an increase in the acid dewpoint, or, for conventional units, locally low gas temperatures are caused by air inleakage. Low tube temperatures are often due to insufficient feedwater inlet temperatures, or for HRSGs, low exhaust gas temperatures.

Corrective Actions

Initially, all affected areas should be examined for wall thinning, including by ultrasonic thickness testing, and necessary repairs should be made. In the long term, mitigation will require raising the gas and metal temperatures above the acid dewpoint temperature or lowering the acid dewpoint. For both conventional and HRSG units, mitigation steps can include the use of lower sulfur fuel and periodic removal of ash deposits. Additional possible mitigation steps for HRSGs include: increasing the feedwater inlet temperature, avoiding low load operation, and upgrading of tube materials (e.g., Alloys 20, 825, or 625 or carbon steel clad with austenitic stainless steel or Alloy 825).

SI Services

• NDE/inspection services to define the geography of damage using ultrasonic testing (UT) for conventional boilers and using fiber optic or other visual techniques for HRSGs.
• Provide recommendations for appropriate tube sampling locations for conventional and HRSGs.
• Mechanism identification through comprehensive metallurgical analysis of the failure areas and/or characterization of the associated corrosion products and deposits.
• Support the implementation, review and follow-up of the action plan and assess the results. Provide advice and guidance on repair aspects.