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Selecting process
piping materials
These guidelines and referenced
codes and articles aid selection of
piping for most HPI processes
R.B. Setterlund, (OHPHQW Houston

SELECTION OF PIPING MATERIALS for refinery

and petrochemical plants requires collaboration between the
corrosion piping and process engineers, and usually involves
more than determining if a material is compatible with a given
environment. Many questions must be answered before a pipe
and valve specification can be written. Is the alloy available in
the size and thickness required? Is it the most economical
choice? Should it be specified as seamless or welded? Is it
suitable for the maximum anticipated operating temperature or
will long-term exposure to these temperatures cause its
mechanical properties to deteriorate? Will it require special
welding or heat treatment requirements?
It should be noted at the outset that the best approach
to corrosion control may not involve the use of corrosion-
resistant alloy materials. Often adequate life can be obtained
in corrosion services with carbon steel piping in conjunction
with control of process and operating variables. In other cases,
in particular those piping systems handling corrosive fluids at
elevated temperatures, there is no alternative to corrosion-re- Fig. 1—Cross section of a failed carbon steel piping weld carrying
sistant materials. Also, low or elevated temperature service caustic contaminated vacuum gas oil.
conditions can dictate the use of special materials.
General guidelines. Corrosion can be classified into three TABLE 1 – Controlling stress corrosion cracking
general forms based on the type of damage that results. Some Metal Environment Common control measure
Carbon and alloy steels Caustic solutions at stress relief of welds and
types of damage can be tolerated, others cannot and it is Temperatures over 120°F cold bends
important to be aware of these distinctions. The three general To over 108°F depending
On concentration1 (Control of stress)
forms are: 1. uniform corrosion, 2. localized corrosion and 3.
stress corrosion cracking. Heat treated alloys with Sulfide solutions at Control of hardness or
Hardnesses over HRC 22 ambient or elevated selection of more
Uniform corrosion, in which metal is removed more to HRC 30 depending
3
temperatures resistant alloys
2

on alloy group (Control of materials)

or less uniformly, is the most common form of corrosion and
the least dangerous. It is generally agreed that the maximum Austenitic stainless Chloride solution at Flushing, neutralizing,
steels with temperatures over 110°F avoidance of crevices,
acceptable loss of metal due to uniform corrosion is susceptibility decreasing to 180°F depending on coating
approximately 20 mils per year (mpy).1 This rate of corrosion with the more highly
alloyed grades4
chloride concentration
and alloy susceptibility (Control of environment)
is not usually desirable since high corrosion rates not only
reduce the thickness of piping but also can lead to plugging of
heat exchanger bundles and reactor screens by corrosion corrosion products. Type 304 stainless steel is often specified
deposits. Iron sulfide scale occupies a volume about seven for this service to avoid acid cleaning and to prevent rust
times the volume of metal that is removed, thus a ten in. pipe formation when the lines are drained.
corroding at 20 mpy would produce about three cubic feet of Localized corrosion involves selective removal of
loose scale per year per 100 feet of length. metal from part of the exposed metal surface. Pitting
Except where equipment becomes plugged, corrosion, crevice corrosion, galvanic corrosion and selective
contamination of process streams by corrosion products is not weld attack all fall under this category. These types of
usually as serious a problem in hydrocarbon processing plants damage are difficult to inspect for and, unlike uniform attack,
as in most chemical plants. One exception is equipment lube increased corrosion allowances are seldom an effective control
and seal oil lines which must be kept absolutely free from measure.

Fig. 2—Valve stem that failed from
sulfide stress cracking.
Stress corrosion cracking
involves cracking of metal without
significant loss of metal and should
be evaluated when selecting
materials. Stress corrosion cracking
occurs when certain metals are
exposed under a tensile stress to
specific environments and failures
can occur rap- idly without
warning, thus it is important that
the risk be minimized. Stress
corrosion cracking can be
prevented by 1: selecting metals
which are immune to failure (which
is usually the preferred method), 2.
removal or reduction of stress or 3.
control of the environment (which
is the most risky method). Table 1
illustrates how these three methods
are used to control metal-
environment combinations likely to
result in stress cracking failures.
Some stress corrosion cracking failures are difficult
to foresee. Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a steel pipe weld
that cracked in caustic-contaminated hydrocarbon at 475°F.
This failure resulted from the use of contaminated stripping
steam and was overcome by operational changes. Had this not
been possible, it would have been necessary to stress relieve
all of the welds in the piping system.
Most stress corrosion cracking failures, however,
could have been prevented using information available at the
time of design. Fig. 2 shows a stem from a new valve that
failed during startup of a hydrocracking unit. The valve stem
failed during short-term exposure to 2,000 ppm H2S during
catalyst presulfiding operations. The stem was UNS S45000
precipitation hardening stainless steel and failed due to a form
of stress corrosion cracking referred to as sulfide stress
cracking (SSC). The valve stem was in the H950 condition
with a hardness of Rockwell C40 making it highly susceptible
to an SSC failure. For resistance to SSC, the S45000 valve
stem should have been in the Hl150 condition with a hardness
no greater than Rockwell C 31 or, alternatively, the stem could
have been of another SSC resistant alloy.2 Since failure can
take place under short-term upset or transient conditions, a
change to a more resistant alloy or heat treatment is usually
the only reliable means to ensure freedom from SSC in
refinery process units.
The material selection,
produced by marking a process
flow diagram, shows the
composition, temperature and
pressure of each process stream
along with its appropriate
material of construction.
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Pipe and valve specifications. In most major projects,
the preparation of the pipe and valve specifications starts in
the piping department of an engineering contractor. These
engineering firms have standardized specifications which are
usually coded to: 1. materials of construction, 2. primary
flange pressure classification and 3. minimum allowances for
corrosion. The codes are often subgrouped to provide for
variations in valve trim material, types of small fittings,
screwed or socket welded, or special heat treatment or
material requirements. An example of a code system is shown
below.
Pipe material (C indicates carbon steel
pipe without special requirements)
Subgroup (C indicates carbon steel
valves with standard 12 chrome
stainless steel trim and socket weld
fittings)
C C 4
Corrosion allowance (4 indicates
minimum corrosion allowance in
1/32s or 1/8-in. min)
The pipe and valve specifications needed for a
particular project are taken from the standard specification
and, by use of a computer, are modified to meet the
requirements of the operating company for whom the plant is
being built. If necessary, a new pipe and valve specification
may be developed to cover specific service conditions or
special requirements. As the project proceeds, these
specifications are reviewed and revised. New specifications
are added and some specifications are dropped. Often
specifications are discarded or combined to simplify the job by
standardization.
It is usually desirable to employ the fewest possible
different piping materials. This reduces construction costs and
is of particular interest to the maintenance departments or the
operating company. For example, assume that one
specification calls for AISI 304 stainless steel pipe and another
calls for AISI 304L stainless steel pipe. If the quantity of 304
stainless steel is small, it would be preferable to use only AISI
304L stainless for both services. This eliminates the need to
keep the two grades separated and reduces the chance of type
304 piping being used where the lower carbon grade is needed
to prevent weld zone attack. If, on the other hand, the project
involves the use of a large quantity of stainless steel in
services where ordinary type 304 has proven to be
satisfactory, then the cost of using both specifications may be
justified.
General hydrocarbons. The term "general
hydrocarbons" refers to those hydrocarbon services where
corrosion would not be expected and special requirements are
not needed. Hydrocarbons, by themselves, are not corrosive at
the temperatures at which they are normally processed.
Corrosion results from impurities in the hydrocarbon such as
chloride salts, organic acids, water and sulfur compounds or

by- products formed from breakdown of these impurities.
Also, chemicals added to hydrocarbons during processing,
such as NaOH and H2SO4, may require the use of special
metals and/or certain precautions.5
The piping and valve specifications for general
hydrocarbon service are most often written around ASTM A
53 Grade B or A 106 Grade B seamless pipe, more familiar to
pipefitters as "black iron" pipe. The basic specification for
petroleum refinery service will require that valves have cast
steel bodies with stainless steel trim, usually 12% chromium
stainless steel.
Specifications for less severe service may allow cast
iron flanged valves under the limits for ductile cast iron and
for gray cast iron shown in ASME B 31.3, "Chemical Plant
and Petroleum Refinery Piping Code." Standard A 53 Grade B
pipe is widely available and low in cost, can be bent hot and
cold, and cut and welded using simple methods and minimal
precautions. Carbon steel pipe has relatively high strength and
ductility, adequate toughness for most applications, and fair
resistance to corrosion in a wide range of environments.
Changes from basic pipe specifications should be carefully
considered since any material substitution made to obtain an
improvement in either strength, toughness or corrosion
resistance, will usually involve increased cost and decreased
availability. Some hydrocarbon services, however, require
alternative materials. One example is piping to handle hydro-
carbon at temperatures below ambient.
Low temperature service. The fracture toughness of
carbon steel and ferritic alloys decreases with decreasing
metal temperature.6 This phenomenon is the basis for the
20°F minimum temperature limit in Appendix A of the
ANSI B 31.3 piping code. Some ferritic materials such as
structural grade steels without chemistry limits and ductile and
malleable iron cannot be used below this temperature, but
most ferritic steels can be used to a lower temperature
provided they are stress relieved and qualified by impact
testing.
The B 31.3 code has an important exclusion to the
impact test requirement based on the fact that brittle fracture
initiation is related to the level of applied stress. Impact testing
is not required for temperatures between -20°F and -50°F
provided the actual stress is less than 25% of the allowable
stress above -20°F. This exclusion should be applied with care
and post weld stress relief is advised as a precautionary
measure even though it is not mandated by the B 31.3 code.
Austenitic grades of stainless steel, provided they are
in the solution treated condition and contain less than 0.10%
carbon, can be used to temperatures down to -325°F without
being impact tested. Liquefied natural gas as well as other
refrigerated hydrocarbons are often handled in austenitic
stainless steel pipe. Since austenitic stainless steel can be
taken "off the shelf" and applied directly to low temperature
service without special tests, there is a temptation to employ it
automatically for temperatures under -20°F. This may lead to
unexpected problems, as illustrated by chloride stress-
corrosion cracking failures which recently occurred shortly
after the startup of a chemical plant. Three similar plants had
been constructed using A 53 B pipe to handle solutions
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containing organic chlorides without problems. This plant,
however, required that the minimum design temperature be
reduced from -20°F to -40°F.
The stainless steel piping was replaced in a matter of
days using pipe from stock. Since the pressure in the failed
line was sufficiently low, ordinary A 53 Grade B pipe could
be used without changing the -40°F design temperature. Had
impact tested material been required, the replacement may
have taken weeks or months.
Hydrocarbon-sulfur. At elevated temperature, iron
reacts chemically with elemental sulfur and/or sulfur
compounds to form iron sulfide. The corrosiveness of the
sulfur bearing hydrocarbons, unlike chemical mixtures, is not
proportional to the weight percent sulfur. The reason for this is
that the sulfur may be present in various forms such as
elemental sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, aliphatic sulfides, aromatic
sulfides, polysulfides, mercaptans and disulfides, all with
different potentials for causing corrosion. At elevated
temperatures many organic sulfides break down to form
hydrogen sulfide or sulfur which reacts with metal surfaces.
Lighter molecules tend to promote corrosion more readily than
heavier sulfur compounds, some of which, because of their
stability, are essentially noncorrosive.7
Sulfide corrosion is strongly temperature dependent.
The sulfidation rate decreases in proportion to the amount of
chromium in the steel (Fig. 3).10 These curves have been
drawn based on modified data from a 1963 American
Petroleum Institute paper, "High Temperature Sulfidic
Corrosion in Hydrogen-Free Environment."11 In crude
fractionation units, carbon steel is relatively unaffected by
corrosion at temperatures below 500°F to 550°F and marginal
in performance at temperatures between 550°F and 650°F. 8
The most common carbon- to-alloy steel break temperature is
550°F, but some refiners will require the use of alloy steel at
temperatures as low as 500°F, while others have used carbon
steel up to 600°F. When carbon steel is used in contact with
sulfur over 500°F it is common to specify silicon-killed grades
such as ASTM A 106 pipe and A 105 fittings. Steels with
0.15% to 0.30% silicon have been shown to be greatly
superior to steels with under 0.1% silicon in some
environments.9
Fig. 3—Effect of chromium content of steel on high temperature
. 10
corrosion rate in a hydrogen free environment

Standard A 53 Grade B pipe has no silicon requirements
and can be furnished with or without silicon which resulted in
a 1986 failure having tragic consequences. A short section of
standard weight NPS 4 ASTM A 53 Grade B pipe was added
in the field to correct an interference problem. The added pipe
had only 0.016% silicon while the remaining shop spooled
pipe had 0.17% silicon or higher. The line carried hydrocarbon
with 0.06% sulfur at a temperature of 610°F. A large number
of wall thickness readings had shown adequate wall thickness,
however, no thickness readings had been made on the field-
added splice section. After many years of operation the short
section was thinned (Fig. 4), and failed due to fluid pressure
resulting in a fire with fatalities.
The workhorse alloy in petroleum refining is one
containing 5% chromium and 0.5% molybdenum. This alloy,
often called simply "5 chrome," has a sulfidation rate of about
one-third that of carbon steel, allowing it to be used in the
important 525°F to 675°F temperature range. Alloy steels.
with lower chromium contents such as 1-1/4 Cr-0.5 Mo and 2-
1/4 Cr-l Mo steels are seldom employed for their corrosion
resistance in hydrocarbon plus sulfur environments. These
alloys are primarily used either for very high temperature,
noncorrosive services or for service in high temperature, high
pressure hydrogen environments, as discussed later.
In applications where corrosion rates are too severe for 5
Cr-0.5 Mo steel, either 7 Cr-0.5 Mo or 9 Cr-1 Mo alloy steels
may be used. At present 7 chrome steel is rarely produced and,
when it is used either 9 chrome (A 217 Grade C12) or 12
chrome (A 217 Grade CA15) castings must be specified for
valve bodies.
Fig. 4 –Cross section of a failed carbon steel piping weld carrying
naptha with 0.06% sulfur.
Fig. 5—Cross section of a failed carbon steel piping weld carrying
wet sour hydrocarbon.
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Hydrocarbon-organic acids. In crude distillation units, the
corrosion rate may be greatly affected by various organic acids
present in petroleum stocks. These acids, referred to as
napthenic acid, can cause severe corrosion to refinery piping
and equipment operating at temperatures between 400°F and
700°F. 12
At higher temperatures, naphthenic acids are decomposed
and do not contribute to corrosion of units downstream of the
crude unit. Type 316 stainless steel is widely used to resist
naphthenic acid corrosion, however, under some conditions
lower priced alloys may be suitable. A recent paper by Piehl
gives current information on this complex subject and should
be reviewed prior to making decisions on materials for
handling naphthenic acid crude.13
Water-hydrogen sulfide. Another service conditiop
calling for a separate specification is piping for either water or
wet gas containing hydrogen sulfide. While carbon steel with
extra corrosion allowance is usually suitable on the basis of
metal loss, consideration must be made for the hydrogen that
is charged into the steel due to corrosion in the presence of
sulfide ions.
The primary consideration for sour service should be
avoidance of hard valve components to avoid sulfide stress
cracking as illustrated by the broken stem shown in Fig. 2.
Sulfide stress cracking of valve components can have serious
consequences especially when it involves the valve stem. Not
only is there a chance of leakage but an open gate valve can
fail closed and shut off a line. For this reason it is good
practice to make all process valves inherently SSC resistant.
This can be done by referencing NACE Standard MR0175-90
on the valve purchase order, however, a more direct and less
time consuming method is to list approved valves by
manufacturer and model numbers and to review proposed
substitutions on an item-by-item basis.
Another NACE standard that in the writer's opinion
should be used for all applications, sour or not, is NACE
Standard RP0472-87, "Methods and Controls to Prevent In-
Service Cracking of Carbon Steel Welds in P-1 Materials in
Corrosive Petroleum Refining Environments." This standard
recommends that welds not exceed 200 Brinell hardness (HE)
and further, that postweld heat treatment (PWHT) of
weldments be considered.
It has been established over the past several years that
even welds of normal hardness are not immune to cracking in
wet sulfide environments.14 While considerable attention has
been given to cracking of pressure vessel welds in wet sulfide
environments, failures of piping welds have been rare. A
possible explanation is the symmetry of piping welds which
produce a more even residual stress pattern than in pressure
vessel welds. One of the rare failures, shown in Fig. 5, took
place in a fitting-to-pipe weld and was largely attributable to
bending stresses. This weld had a hardness under 200 Brinell
but had not been postweld heat treated. No cracks were
detected in pipe-to-pipe welds which had similar hardnesses
but lower applied stress. Despite the rarity of problems, it is
common practice to stress relieve piping for wet sulfide
environments.

Hydrocarbon-hydrogen. Hydrogen at high temperature
and high pressure can permeate steel, and when the conditions
are severe enough, react with metal carbides in the
microstructure. Two types of damage are possible: 1. surface
decarburization, which may not be serious, and 2. subsurface
decarburization, which results in internal fissures that make
the steel unsuitable for safe operation.
Alloy steels containing chromium and/or molybdenum
contain carbides more resistant to reduction by hydrogen. The
limits for various alloys in terms of metal temperature and
hydrogen partial pressure are contained in API Publication
941, "Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures
and Pressures in Petroleum Refineries and Petrochemical
Plants." The operating limit chart contained in API Publication
941, referred to as the Nelson curve, was developed over the
past 30 years and finds application not only in petroleum
refinery units but also in plants that manufacture ammonia,
methanol, edible oils and higher alcohols.
The Nelson curve is based on the partial pressure of
hydrogen in the vapor phase and the maximum anticipated
metal temperature. The user should ensure that the correct
process information and the latest revision are used. The
carbon-l/2% molybdenum limit was lowered in 1977 and
because of subsequent problems at temperatures below this
limit, the current revision contains a warning against the use of
carbon-l/2% molybdenum steel in high temperature re-former
units. 15
When alloy steels are required by API 941 it is not only
necessary to specify chromium-molybdenum alloy pipe but
also to ensure that all components and welds are of the correct
composition. In the example shown in Fig. 6, a section of
carbon steel pipe had been welded into a 2-1/4 Cr-l Mo steel
line. The carbon steel failed by high temperature hydrogen
attack after 10 years.
Fig.6—Cross section of a failed piping weld carrying hydrogen at
800 to 880°F.
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Fig. 7 –Effect of chromium content of steel on the high
temperature corrosion rate in hydrogen-hydrogen sulfide.
16
Hydrocarbon-hydrogen-hydrogen sulfide. Hydro-
treating reactor inlet-outlet piping involves exposure of steels
to H2S in the presence of hydrogen. There are various types of
hydrotreaters, which is a general term to describe the catalytic
desulfurization, treating or cracking of hydrocarbons with
hydrogen. All the processes are similar and operate with
reaction temperatures of around 700°F to 850°F. The
operating pressures vary from 400 psig for units designed to
desulfurize light hydrocarbon streams to over 2,500 psig in
hydrocrackers designed to break heavy hydrocarbons into
more valuable, lighter hydrocarbons. The piping for these two
units may contain similar amounts of hydrogen sulfide but the
pipe materials may differ.
The solid lines in Fig. 7 illustrate the relative corrosion rates
of steels with varying chromium contents in naphtha
desulfurizer piping.16 As shown by the shape of the curves,
chromium is not nearly as effective in reducing corrosion as in
hydrogen-free atmospheres. Nevertheless, 9Cr-1 Mo alloy
steel is often used for reactor effluent piping. Another material
sometimes used is 12% chromium ferritic stainless steel (type
410), however, type 410 stainless steel will undergo a loss of
room temperature ductility and toughness on long-term expo-
sure to temperatures over 700°F through an aging process
called "885 embrittlement." The 831.3 code contains a
warning but does not prohibit its use over this temperature.
One major refiner has made extensive use of centrifugally cast
type 410 stainless steel piping. Extruded type 410 stainless
steel pipe had operated for over 25 years at temperatures over
700°F in units used to desulfurize synthetic crude oil from tar
sands.
The most frequently used material for high
temperature hydrotreater piping is austenitic stainless steel,
usually the titanium-stabilized type 321 grade. Austenitic
stainless steels are not susceptible to 885 embrittlement and
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have excellent ductility and toughness even after long-term pressure of approximately 800 psig. The feed is assumed to
service. Austenitic stainless steels are susceptible to stress contain 6,000 ppm of sulfur. Some of the factors involved in
corrosion cracking when exposed to chloride environments selecting materials for the various operating conditions
and Appendix F of the 831.3 code contains a precautionary indicated by the numbered locations on the diagram are
warning against their use when chlorides are known to be discussed in the following paragraphs.
present.
Hydrocrackers and heavy gas oil desulfurizers
present a more limited choice of piping materials than naphtha
desulfurizers, as shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 7. Nine
chrome steel is not acceptable and while 12 chrome stainless
steel has an acceptably low corrosion rate, its low code stress
values make it less attractive than austenitic grades of stainless
steel. Also, its low toughness becomes more significant as the
thickness of the pipe increases.
For hydrocrackers, where costs may exceed several
thou- sand dollars per linear foot of pipe, a more economical
alternative to extruded heavy wall type 321 stainless steel pipe
is centrifugally cast " HF modified" piping. Type HF modified
is a casting alloy developed for this application.17 It contains
more carbon than wrought 18-8 grades of austenitic stainless
steel which makes the metal more fluid at casting temperatures
and improves quality. Also, it is chemically balanced to
produce a two-phase ferritic-austenitic microstructure which
ensures the production of sound, crack-free castings. The high
chromium content gives the alloy very high resistance to high
temperature sulfide corrosion, however, it causes the alloy to
lose toughness after elevated temperature service. The loss of
toughness is kept to within acceptable levels by controlling the
ferrite level to under 15%. The usual composition of HF Fig. 8—Simplified material selection diagram for the high pressure
modified is: portion of a gas oil desulfurizer.

Chromium 21% to 25%

Nickel 6.5% to 11%
Carbon 0.15% to 0.20%
Ferrite 5% to 15%
Due to its high chromium content and two-phase
microstructure, type HF modified stainless steel is highly
resistant to chloride stress cracking. It has lower ductility than
wrought type 321 stainless steel and cannot be formed into
bends. Straight lengths of pipe as well as flanges and other
shapes can be produced by centrifugal casting, but other
shapes such as elbows may have to be statically cast with
some resultant sacrifice in properties.
Material selection diagram. An effective means to express
the consensus among the corrosion engineer, the piping
engineer and the process engineer is the material selection
diagram. The material selection, produced by marking a
process flow diagram, shows the composition, temperature
and pressure of each process stream along with its appropriate
material of construction. The drawing can be extended to
show the code number of the appropriate piping and valve
specifications. Corrosion allowances are usually shown along
with inhibitor and water wash injection points and locations
for corrosion-indicating instruments. To illustrate, Fig. 8
shows a simplified material selection diagram for the high
pressure loop of a gas oil desulfurizer designed to operate at a
1. Five-chrome alloy steel with a 1/8-in. corrosion
allowance is the minimum requirement for pipe transporting
hot charge oil from the shell of the feed effluent heat
exchanger to the hydrogen-rich recycle gas mixing point. The
gas oil is free from hydrogen but contains hydrogen sulfide.
Fig. 3 indicates a corrosion rate of 10 to 12 mpy for 5 chrome
steel at the 663°F operating temperature. If the temperature
had been significantly higher, either a higher corrosion
allowance or the use of 9 Cr-l Mo steel would have been
required. This is the only area where 5 chrome steel is called
for, therefore, if the line was very short it may be preferable to
employ type 321 stainless steel to reduce the number of alloys
involved.
2. Type 321 austenitic stainless steel with 1/16-in.
corrosion allowance is shown for the reactor inlet and outlet
piping. The predicted corrosion rate at the 747°F outlet
temperature is approximately 2 mpy for 18-8 stainless steel,
however, the rate for 5 chrome steel would be over 50 mpy
(Fig. 7). This selection assumes that appreciable chlorides are
not present. The flanged valves would be grade CF 8M
stainless steel which is equivalent to type 316 since this is the
product form for which valves are normally supplied.
3. Low alloy 1-1/4 Cr-l/2 Mo steel is selected for piping
in and out of the hot high pressure separator. The operating
temperature is not high enough to require protection from
sulfur corrosion, but is high enough to cause hydrogen attack
 © 2007 (OHPHQW0DWHULDOV7HFKQRORJ\
in carbon steel. (Maximum rather than average conditions 12. "Corrosion of Refinery Equipment by Naphthenic Acid," Materials
should always be used in conjunction with the API 941 Protection, Vol. 2, No 9, 1963.
13. Piehl, R. L., "Naphthenic Acid Corrosion in Crude Distillation Units,"
hydrogen curves.) Materials Performance, Vol. 27, No 1, 1988.
4. The piping carrying liquid out of the bottom of the 14. Merrick, R D, "Refinery Experiences with Cracking in Wet H2S
hot high pressure separator is carbon steel because of the Environments," ibid.
15. "Steels for Hydrogen Service at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures in
lowered hydrogen content. The pressure letdown valve in this
Petroleum Refineries and Petrochemical Plants," API Publication 941,
line as well as downstream piping are specified to be stainless Third Edition, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., 1983.
steel to guard against corrosion/erosion by hot flashing H2S 16. Couper, A.S., and Gorman, J.W., "New Computer Correlations to
liquids. Sulfide corrosion is velocity dependent and the use of Estimate Corrosion of Steels by Refinery Streams Containing Hydrogen
Sulfide," Paper 67, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, 26th
carbon or low alloy steel is questionable. In this example, the Annual Conference, March 2, 1970.
letdown valve would be located to minimize the footage of 17. Prescott, G.R. and Heller, J.J., "Application of a Modified HF Alloy for
expensive stainless steel piping. Hydrocracker Service," Materials Protection, Vol. 7, No.3, 1968.
5. The mixture of sulfides, ammonia compounds and 18. Piehl, R.L., "Survey of Corrosion in Hydrocracker Effluent Air
water in the downstream piping can produce serious Coolers," Materials Performance, Vol. 15, No.1, 1976
corrosion.17 In this case, it was determined that carbon steel
with a high corrosion allowance could be employed provided
the fluid velocity was limited. In addition, injection facilities
were installed for wash water and for inhibitors to control
fouling and corrosion.
6. The hydrogen partial pressure in the recycle gas was
under 700 psig and the use of alloys was not required at the
maximum operating temperature of the recycle gas piping. To
prevent hydrogen attack resulting from the recycle gas being
further heated, the break point between carbon and stainless
steel was specified to be located well back from the mixing
point.

Precautions. It is hoped that the information in this brief

paper will aid the engineer concerned with the selection and
specification of piping for refinery and petrochemical service.
The charts and examples in this article have been simplified
and are intended only to illustrate concepts. Engineers
involved in specifying materials should refer to the data
contained in the original articles and standards before actually
selecting material for process piping.

LITERATURE CITED
1. Corrosion Data Surry, 5th edition. National Association of Corrosion
Engineers, Houston, Texas, 1974
2. "Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant Metallic Material for Oil Field
Equipment," NACE Standard MR0175-90, National Association of
Corrosion Engineers, Houston, Texas, 1990.
3. Fraser, J P and Treseder, R S.. "Cracking of High Strength Steels in
Hydrogen Sulfide Solutions," Corrosion, Vol. 8, 1952
4. Couper, A. S. and McConomy, H. F., "Stress Corrosion Cracking of
Austenitic Stainless Steels in Refineries," Proceedings of API Division
of Refining, 1966
5. Gutzeit, J., "Corrosion in Petroleum Refineries," Process Industries
Corrosion, NACE, 1988
6. Metals Handbook, Volume I, Ninth Edition, American Society for
Metals, Metals Park, Ohio,1978.
7. "'High Temperature Crude Oil Corrosivity Studies," API Publication
943, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C., 1974.
8. Humphries, M. J. and Sorel, G., "Corrosion Control in Crude Oil
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