Processes and systems for predicting corrosion

A method for evaluating corrosion risk in an amine unit for removing H2S acid gas, comprising:

• identifying a plurality of locations in the amine unit to identify a maximum acid gas loading for each location;
• receiving information about geometrical parameters of each location;
• receiving information about operating parameters, fluid dynamic properties, and properties of amine in the amine unit;
• correlating fluid dynamics of each location in the amine unit with a shear stress value;
• predicting a corrosion rate for each location at different concentrations of H2S in amine as acid gas loadings expressed as concentration of H2S in amine responsive to the correlated shear stress for each location;
• evaluating localized pressure drop in each location due to the geometrical parameters;
• correlating a relationship between vapor saturation pressure and temperature data for the different acid gas loadings;
• and
• identifying from the correlated vapor saturation pressure and temperature data a maximum acid gas loading for each of the identified locations, given the localized pressure drop in each location, above which maximum loading rate flashing of H2S occurs.

A system for evaluating corrosion risk in a unit handling an acid gas containing solute, the system comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to

• receive information about geometrical parameters of a location within the unit;
• receive information about properties of the solute, fluid dynamic properties, and operating parameters in the unit;
• correlate fluid dynamics of the location in the unit with a shear stress value;
• predict a corrosion rate for different acid gas loadings expressed as concentration of the acid gas in the solute responsive to the correlated shear stress;
• evaluate a localized pressure drop in the location due to the geometrical parameters;
• correlate a relationship between vapor saturation pressure and temperature data for the different acid gas loadings;
• determine from the correlated vapor saturation pressure and temperature data a maximum acid gas loading, given the localized pressure drop in the location, above which maximum loading rate flashing of acid gas from the solute occurs.

A computerized prediction system for identifying locations within a unit handling acid gas containing solute susceptible to corrosion risk, comprising:

• one or more processing units for executing program instructions;
• and
• a program memory, coupled to one or more processing units, for storing a computer program including program instructions that when executed by the one or more processing units, is capable of causing the computer system to perform a number of operations comprising:
• receiving information about geometrical parameters of at least a location in the unit;
• receiving information about operating parameters, fluid dynamic properties, and properties of the solute in the unit;
• correlating fluid dynamics of the location in the unit with a shear stress value;
• predicting a corrosion rate for different acid gas loadings expressed as concentration of acid gas in the solute responsive to the correlated shear stress;
• evaluating a localized pressure drop in the location due to the geometrical parameters;
• correlating a relationship between vapor saturation pressure and temperature data for the different acid gas loadings;
• and
• identifying from the correlated vapor saturation pressure and temperature data a maximum acid gas loading, given the localized pressure drop in the location, above which maximum loading rate flashing of acid gas occurs causing corrosion in the location.

A system for evaluating corrosion risk in an amine unit, wherein the processor is configured to

• receive information about geometrical parameters of a location within the amine unit;
• receive information about properties of the amine, fluid dynamic properties, and operating parameters in the amine unit;
• correlate fluid dynamics of the location in the unit with a shear stress value;
• predict a corrosion rate for different acid gas loadings expressed as concentration of H2S in amine responsive to the correlated shear stress;
• evaluate a localized pressure drop in the location due to the geometrical parameters;
• correlate a relationship between vapor saturation pressure and temperature data for the different acid gas loadings;
• and
• determine from the correlated vapor saturation pressure and temperature data a maximum acid gas loading, given the localized pressure drop in the location, above which flashing of H2S from amine occurs.