Is it appropriate to use ordinary carbon steel for the inlet and outlet buffer tanks of the cyclohydrogen compressor?
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We are building a hydrogenation unit. According to the design, the material for the buffer tanks at the outlet of the fractionator is 16MNR (HIC), while ordinary carbon steel is used for the buffer tanks at the inlet and outlet of the recycle hydrogen compressor. The design institute says this is acceptable; I would like to ask the experts whether this is appropriate
Check whether the operating conditions are feasible. If it’s at room temperature, ordinary carbon steel is fine; however, hydrogenation units are likely to have an environment prone to hydrogen corrosion, so hydrogen-resistant steel should be used
The liquid separation tank at the inlet of the cyclic hydrogen compressor should be made of hydrogen-resistant steel, and the outlet buffer tank should also be made of such steel, as hydrogen-resistant materials are necessary when pressure increases.
Like high-pressure outlet buffer tanks, there is also a problem of H+H2S corrosion, and HIC steel should be used.
If the pressure isn’t too high, carbon steel will suffice. Generally, there’s no problem. If you’re worried, you can increase the corrosion margin.