Corrosion effect in safety implication of a leakage steam traps: A case studies in biodiesel storage tank

Abstract

• Safety risks: The burst steam trap can pose a significant safety risk to personnel, as the released steam or combustibles can cause burns, inhalation injuries or even death. • Environmental impact: The release of steam or other substances can contaminate the surrounding environment. • Economic losses: Direct economic losses from a burst steam trap can include the cost of repairs, replacement and downtime. • Equipment damage: The burst steam trap can cause damage to surrounding equipment, resulting in further downtime and repair costs. Thermodynamic steam traps are a type of steam trap used in steam distribution systems to manage condensate return and prevent steam loss. Leaking steam traps can have significant safety implications in industrial environments, primarily due to their potential to cause equipment damage, operational inefficiencies and hazardous conditions. The presence of stagnant condensate due to blocked traps can result in water hammer, which creates pressure waves that can damage piping and cause leaks or ruptures. There are basically 2 ways to measure corrosion rate, one is to measure the change in weight of the metal after a certain period of exposure to the target environment and the second is to use electrochemistry. This research aims to identify the corrosion occurring in the steam trap and apply safety implications using gravimetric methods. The corrosion that occurred in the first year was 0.6232 mm/y, while the corrosion that occurred in years 10 to 12 was relatively more stable at around 0.006 mm/y. The weight loss and metal loss that occurred in the first year were 48 g/y and 0.6153 mm/y, while the weight loss and metal loss that occurred in years 10 to 12 were relatively more stable at around 5 g/y and 0.0650 mm/y.