The use of organic neutralizing amines in distillation overhead systems is a common refinery corrosion control practice. Two problems are often encountered in these amine applications: underdeposit corrosion attack resulting from the deposition of amine-hydrochloride salts and aggressive acid corrosion in the vicinity of the aqueous dewpoint. Often it is the misapplication of neutralizers that creates these problems.
To address these neutralizer concerns, the fundamental data required to accurately predict the behavior of these amines and their hydrochloride salts has been developed. These data were incorporated into commercially available process simulators to aid in the design and application of amine neutralizers. This new technology has been applied to a wide variety of refinery distillation overhead systems. Examples of its use in improving corrosion control are presented here.
Keywords: underdeposit corrosion, organic amines, amine-hydrochloride salts, simulation, acidic corrosion, dewpoint