Abstract
BACKGROUND AND CASE HISTORY
The chlorinator line which failed was delivering sea water and hypochloride to the stilling tube of sea water lift pump 29/X-OIC to treat sea water continuously with 2 ppm of hypochloride to control microorganism. After every five to six hours, shock treatment of about 5 ppm of hypochloride for half an hour was also being given. This chlorinator line was 38 mm (1.5 inch) in diameter with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm. Its material is reported to be 90-10 copper-nickel alloy. A flow velocity of 0.45 m/sec (1.5 ft/sec) was used. At times this line was shut down and thus flow was not always continuous.
Failure in the form of perforation/leak occurred at some distances from the outlet of the chlorinator line after it had been in operation for one and half years.
The objective of this study is: (i) To investigate nature/type of corrosion damage and cause of perforation. (ii) To determine chemical composition to check whether the material of chlorinator line is as per specification.