The pipelines used for transporting 98% concentrated sulfuric acid are made of 304 stainless steel; pipe perforations occur. Is 304 stainless steel still reliable for such applications?
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The pipelines used for transporting 98% concentrated sulfuric acid are made of 304 stainless steel; pipe perforations occur. Is 304 stainless steel still reliable for such applications?
Use 316, or use a plastic tube or a lining tube
Pipes made of 304 can handle 98% concentrated sulfuric acid without any problem; the concentrated sulfuric acid forms a passivation layer on the metal surface, which prevents further corrosion of that surface. The question is whether your pipes are indeed made of 304 material
What is the acid temperature? How many years has it been in use? Our factory uses 304 pipes for acid transportation, and there has been no perforation after more than 5 years
The temperature is probably too high, or the concentration fluctuates; using fluorinated-lined pipes could also be an option
It is likely that the flow rate and temperature are changing; you can look up some information on this, and consider controlling the flow rate or replacing the pipes