We are purchasing a surface condens

[starfarooq]

We are purchasing a surface condenser. the basic engineering design firm has specified the material of construction such as Tubes and Tubesheet of the condenser are of SS304L whereas the shell and waterboxes are made up of Carbon Steel. As the service fluid is liquid (an electrical conductor) on both sides and the fact that CS and SS have a high difference in Galvanic Potentials in the Galvanic Series of metals, we foresee the phenomenon of Galvanic Corrosion on the shell and waterbox areas near to the tubesheets. Please comment and advise.

 

[vpl]

This sounds like a good question to ask your engineering design firm.

I've seen sacrificial anodes used to prevent problems -- they work fine as long as they're replaced regularly. However, inevitably someone decides to "save money" by not replacing the anode because they haven't seen any evidence of corrosion. Then, a few years down the line, they're doing major heat exchanger repairs.

So you might want to ask the design firm what expectations they're placing on you as customers for long-term maintenance.

Patricia Lougheed

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