Question
Asked 24 December 2016

How to differentiate the product of corrosion and scaling?

I am analyzing the formation of scaling on a geothermal system. The deposit I obtained was from a demister, one of the components there that separated the working fluid from water. I am analyzing whether the deposit is a product of corrosion or scaling. From the references I currently had, corrosion and scaling formation are two different problems. But I haven't get the answer on how to differentiate the two of them by analyzing their products. Can we actually identify the chemical reaction from their products? And is it possible to determine whether it's a corrosion or scaling reaction that occurs in the system?
Thank you for the explanation and references to articles are very much appreciated.

Most recent answer

Ashish Thakur
Mekelle University
Dear Paul Igina,
Thank you.

All Answers (7)

Indira Karuppusamy
M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering
Yes, you can identify the chemical reaction by analysing the corrosion product. Please refer the following article, hope it may help you a bit to understand and act accordingly. http://www.aquafit4use.eu/userdata/file/Public%20results/AquaFit4Use%20-%20Fouling%20and%20corrosion%20parameters.pdf
2 Recommendations
Mohammed Hussein j. H. Al'Atia
Ministry of Science and Technology, Iraq
The precipitation fouling and corrosion fouling are the same as scaling phenomena. The precipitation fouling comes normally from environment side and the corrosion fouling comes from metal side as a result of interaction with the exposed environment. There are many probabilities for the interaction between these two fouling cases depends on their chemical reaction affinities to produce complex compounds seen in the scale analysis and then the speed of each fouling cases. Now if the precipitation fouling is faster than corrosion process this will inhibit the corrosion fouling and the corrosion product seen as thin inner layer in the scale and when the corrosion process is faster you can see the corrosion product as thick inner layer in the scale.
Thank you
2 Recommendations
Mohamad Afifi
University of Technology Malaysia
Corrosionnis the vultures of technology..it waits for the material to die or be inactive then it will set in , usually the parent metals will decrease in mass . how ever scalling is more of deposits of materials foreign to the parent materials
1 Recommendation
Ashish Thakur
Mekelle University
Dear Afifah Harmayanti,
Corrosiveness or scaling is an inherent property of some groundwater and is related to the type of rocks or sediments in contact with the groundwater. Corrosion is caused when water reacts with or dissolves metal plumbing. This can add toxic levels of metals like copper and lead to your water. When using boilers for an industrial plant and process, one of the most important things to implement is the appropriate treatment of the boiler feed water before it has a chance to scale and corrode equipment. Another example, corrosion and scale formation are two common problems in cooling water systems. Corrosion is primarily caused by the presence of water, oxygen and metals such as carbon steel.
Difference between scaling and corrosion
1. Scaling in boiler
Scaling is a deposit formed on the inside of piping and heat transfer surfaces when the water is heated and impurities precipitate or settle out. These deposits can build up and interfere with heat transfer or, in extreme cases, cause tube and system failure. Some common feed water contaminants that cause scaling include Silica, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium and Aluminum. If a power plant is drawing their process water from a river or lake, there could potentially be an assortment of suspended and colloidal solids present, such as silica. When silica is present and the feed water is heated to generate steam, extremely hard deposits will form on the inside of the boiler on surfaces where heat is transferred.
2. Corrosion in boilers
Corrosion in boilers, or the breakdown of the metal elements of the device, can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is the presence of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide, which eat away at areas of the boiler causing system stress and cracking. Corrosion typically occurs in the parts of the boiler that are heated the most, where high temperatures and cracking in the metals accelerate the breakdown of the materials. Also keep in mind that various metals and construction materials in the boiler will react differently with the present gasses and contaminates that cause corrosion, so each system should be analyzed individually. There are several types of corrosion that can occur in a boiler, including galvanic corrosion, caustic corrosion, acidic corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, oxygen attack and carbon dioxide attack.
Ashish
1 Recommendation
Ashish Thakur
Mekelle University
Dear Afifah Harmayanti,
Corrosiveness or scaling is an inherent property of some groundwater and is related to the type of rocks or sediments in contact with the groundwater. Corrosion is caused when water reacts with or dissolves metal plumbing. This can add toxic levels of metals like copper and lead to your water. When using boilers for an industrial plant and process, one of the most important things to implement is the appropriate treatment of the boiler feed water before it has a chance to scale and corrode equipment. Another example, corrosion and scale formation are two common problems in cooling water systems. Corrosion is primarily caused by the presence of water, oxygen and metals such as carbon steel.
Difference between scaling and corrosion
1. Scaling in boiler
Scaling is a deposit formed on the inside of piping and heat transfer surfaces when the water is heated and impurities precipitate or settle out. These deposits can build up and interfere with heat transfer or, in extreme cases, cause tube and system failure. Some common feed water contaminants that cause scaling include Silica, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium and Aluminum. If a power plant is drawing their process water from a river or lake, there could potentially be an assortment of suspended and colloidal solids present, such as silica. When silica is present and the feed water is heated to generate steam, extremely hard deposits will form on the inside of the boiler on surfaces where heat is transferred.
2. Corrosion in boilers
Corrosion in boilers, or the breakdown of the metal elements of the device, can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is the presence of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide, which eat away at areas of the boiler causing system stress and cracking. Corrosion typically occurs in the parts of the boiler that are heated the most, where high temperatures and cracking in the metals accelerate the breakdown of the materials. Also keep in mind that various metals and construction materials in the boiler will react differently with the present gasses and contaminates that cause corrosion, so each system should be analyzed individually. There are several types of corrosion that can occur in a boiler, including galvanic corrosion, caustic corrosion, acidic corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, oxygen attack and carbon dioxide attack.
Ashish
scaling gives only products of oxides of base material being used. corrosion gives products of base material and media or environment it is being exposed(ex. chloride, sulfide etc.). look for the same to confirm.
Ashish Thakur
Mekelle University
Dear Paul Igina,
Thank you.

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