5 Werkstofftechnik
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Geothermal energy is one of the most promising energy resources to replace fossil fuel. To extract this energy, hot fluids of various salts and gases are pumped up from a geothermal well having a certain depth and location. Geothermal wells in volcanic regions often contain highly corrosive CO2 and H2S gases that can be corrosive to the geothermal power-plants, which are commonly constructed of different steels, such as carbon steel. This research focuses on the corrosion behaviour of carbon steel exposed to an artificial geothermal fluid containing CO2 gas, using an artificial acidic-saline geothermal brine as found in Sibayak, Indonesia. This medium has a pH of 4 and a chloride content of 1,500 mg/L. Exposure tests were conducted for seven days at 70 °C and 150 °C to simulate the operating temperatures for low and medium enthalpy geothermal sources. Surface morphology and cross-section of the specimens from the above experiments were analysed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). Electrochemical tests via open circuit potential (OCP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to understand the corrosion processes of carbon steel in CO2-containing solution both at 70 °C and 150 °C. Localized corrosion was observed to a greater extent at 70 °C due to the less protectiveness of corrosion product layer compared to that at 150 °C, where FeCO3 has a high corrosion resistance. However, a longer exposure test for 28 days revealed the occurrence of localized corrosion with deeper pits compared to the seven-day exposed carbon steel. In addition, corrosion product transformation was observed after 28 days, indicating that more Ca2+ cations incorporate into the FeCO3 structure.
Recent studies have shown that even at a very low concentration of impurities (less than 100 ppmv of SO2, NO2, O2 and H2O) the droplet formation and condensation of sulfuric and nitric acids in dense phase CO2 are possible and observable. To reveal the mechanism of droplet corrosion in dense phase CO2 at high pressure and low temperature, further studies on factors that affect wettability and resulting corrosion behaviors of transport pipeline steels are needed. In this study, effects of surface morphology were investigated by varying surface roughness of carbon steel coupons exposed to CO2 stream containing impurities to measure the wettability by contact angle and to observe the condensation as well as possible droplet corrosion that followed. Other considered factors were: pH of the droplet, temperature, droplet volume, and exposure time.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is identified as an excellent technology to reach the target of CO2 reduction. However, the safety issue and cost-effectiveness hinder the future of CCS. For the reliability and safety issues of injection wells, the corrosion resistance of the materials used needs to be determined.
In this study, representative low-cost materials including carbon steel 1.8977 and low alloyed steel 1.7225 were investigated in simulated pore water at 333 K and under CO2 saturation condition to represent the worst-case scenario: CO2 diffusion and aquifer fluid penetration. These simulated pore waters were made from relevant cement powder to mimic the realistic casing-cement interface. Electrochemical studies were carried out using the pore water made of cement powder dissolved in water in comparison with those dissolved in synthetic aquifer fluid, to reveal the effect of cement as well as formation water on the steel performance. Two commercially available types of cement were investigated: Dyckerhoff Variodur® and Wollastonite. Variodur® is a cement containing high performance binder with ultra-fine blast furnace slag which can be used to produce high acid resistance concrete. On the other hand, Wollastonite is an emerging natural material mainly made of CaSiO3 which can be hardened by converting to CaCO3 during CO2 injection.
The results showed the pH-reducing effect of CO2 on the simulated pore water/aquifer (from more than 10 to less than 5) leading to the active corrosion process that happened on both 1.8977 and 1.7225. Electrochemical characterization showed negative free corrosion potential and polarisation curves without passive behaviors. The tested coupons suffered from pitting corrosion, which was confirmed by surface analysis. Interestingly, basing on the pit depth measurements from the tested coupons and the hardness of cement powder, it is suggested that Variodur® performed better than Wollastonite in both aspects. The electrochemical data was compared to that resulted from exposure tests to give a recommendation on material selection for bore-hole construction.