How to prevent corrosion in steam tracing pipes
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Our company has been using steam at 10 kg and 200 degrees for heat tracing, and we have done so for 7 years. Now leaks are appearing on the surface gradually, and the heat tracing on some of the thicker tubes has also become corroded and pitted. I would like to ask fellow users: what measures do you take to reduce the rate of corrosion?
I think this is corrosion under the insulation layer; it’s important not to allow rainwater to reach the insulation layer.
I’m in the Guangdong region where the weather is humid; even with asphalt sheeting and aluminum boxes to provide waterproofing, the pipelines still suffer from the kind of corrosion I mentioned
This is usually caused by erosion, and there’s no particularly good solution; we either have to use materials that are resistant to it or replace the pipelines!
After being installed, the heat tracing tubes need to be properly protected against corrosion; over time they have to be replaced, and yours are already 7 years old. You know what it will be like after 7 years of using the device
The main causes of this corrosion are oxygen corrosion and electrochemical corrosion resulting from intermittent operation. Using thick-walled pipes or stainless steel pipes can effectively extend their lifespan.
1. Apply high-temperature anti-corrosion paint to the pipelines. 2. Pay attention to the construction quality of the insulation material and the surface steel sheet to prevent corrosion beneath the insulation layer.
Corrosion beneath the insulation layer: check whether the insulating material has absorbed moisture, whether the heat tracing is used intermittently, and whether the anti-corrosion coating on the pipeline is intact; all these factors can affect the occurrence of external corrosion.
First, repair materials are used to fix the corrosion defects, and then a polymer insulation coating is applied to provide corrosion protection and insulation, thereby avoiding corrosion caused by water absorption in traditional insulation layers. It can also make the pipes look more aesthetically pleasing. In simple terms, several coatings can provide both corrosion protection and insulation.
Thank you, I now understand what to do. When installing pipes in the future, I really need to pay close attention to corrosion prevention
Double-sided enamel corrosion-resistant pipes can be used instead!