can stainless steel ss316 withstand corrosion?

[etrobal]

we have a stainless steel, vertical, cylindrical, tank made out from ss316 plates with a thickness of 5mm, including a corrosion allowance of 3mm. the capacity of the tank is 25 cubic meters and contains H2SO4, with the applicable code as API 650, with design pressure as atmospheric and design temperature at 50degC. all nozzle connections are ss316. this tank has exhibited corrosion, as reported by our quality control. what would be the best material for this kind of fluid, h2so4?

 

[gr2vessels]

Please download in your PC the document provided with the link below:

http://www.ivt.ntnu.no/ipm/und/fag/k_i/robmat/Forelesningsmatriell/13.10.2004 NORSOK M-001.pdf

Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[strider6]

etrobal

The corrosion of stainless steel in contact with sulfuric acid is a function of the concentration of the acid ,the operating temperature aand if the acid is aerated or not. The approach used in you case, stainless steel + corrosion allowance, seems very strange to me. corosion allowance is never, at least in my experience, used with stainless steel, if you select SS is 'cause you think that SS will not have corrosion. what you've to do is to select a material that resist in your oprtaing conditions.

http://www.corrosionist.com/Questions_Answers_5_stainless_steel_316_sulfuric_acid.htm

there are also NACE standard on this issue :

Design, Fabrication, and Inspection of Storage Tank Systems for Concentrated Fresh and Process Sulfuric Acid and Oleum
at Ambient Temperatures
NACE SP 0294-2006

hope this help

S

Corrosion Prevention & Corrosion Control

 

[EdStainless]

there are entire books on the handling and storage of sulfuric.
One of the best is the MS series from MTI in St. Louis

http://www.mtiproducts.org/ms2ndedsuac.html

At $300 it is cheap for the info it contains.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[etrobal]

sirs, thank you indeed for the valuable information.