Material issues with concentrated ammonia pipelines
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For our pipelines carrying concentrated ammonia, we used 316L stainless steel in the past, which leaked frequently; later we switched to PPR pipes, but then we encountered serious problems with pipe deformation, as well as frequent blockages during winter. These pipelines are used to transport ammonia to the desulfurization reaction tank, and the distance between them is quite large
Are there any other pipes that are durable and relatively inexpensive? They’re too expensive; the cost is too high, and the management won’t approve it
For fluids that are ammonia, stainless steel is generally used; carbon steel is rarely employed, and plastic is also not used very often. If the pressure is low, it is better to use carbon steel with an inner plastic coating
Reply to 3#: The worm-eating rice is made of carbon steel with an inner plastic coating; how does its price compare to that of stainless steel?
This is easy to handle – use lined pipes, but keep the length of each pipe short so as to reduce the effects caused by temperature fluctuations*. Add expansion joints in the middle of the pipes, and that will solve the problem. If it works well, don’t forget to thank me!
Of course, it’s much cheaper. Carbon steel actually serves as a structural support to meet stiffness requirements, while plastic functions as an anti-corrosion barrier layer
Reply to 1# yongfeifir: What is the pressure? To choose a pipeline, it’s necessary to consider the medium, pressure, and temperature – none of these can be ignored. Hehe, I know of a type made of fiberglass that is used for transporting brine, and it can withstand pressures of over 100 kilograms
Reply to 7# zxf760718: The pressure is not high, within 3 kilograms.
Reply to 8# yongfeifir: We have used compressors with ammonia cooling; the pipe material used at the inlet of such compressors is LCB. Hehe, I’m not sure if this will be useful to you. By the way, you mentioned pressure – what about temperature?
Reply to 9# zxf760718: Temperature is less than 100
Reply to 10# yongfeifir: In that case, I wouldn’t recommend using lined pipes. In our previous experiences, when using lined pipes, it’s essential to choose a reliable manufacturer; otherwise, the lining layer can easily get damaged, which makes repairs very difficult. With lined pipes, either an entire section has to be replaced, and it’s not clear which section is affected, making it hard to diagnose the problem. The LCB pipes we use have a lower temperature – the inlet temperature can reach around -35 degrees – and the pressure is also low, less than 1 kilogram. Hope this helps!