This paper describes the results of a research project to develop a non-toxic corrosion inhibitor for the protection of carbon steel surfaces of ammonia-water absorption heat pumps through the use of rare earth metal salt (REMS) compounds. Chromate compounds are currently used as corrosion inhibitors in these systems, but are toxic, environmentally harmful, and their use is being phased out. Corrosion concerns in ammonia-water absorption systems are primarily those of non-condensable (NC) gases generated by corrosion reactions impeding the heat and mass transfer processes in the system. The research focused on the development of a dual-protection REMS based strategy of applying a cerium-oxide/hydroxide coating to the metal surface in a process called cerating, in conjunction with a cerium-sulfate solution-based inhibitor. A laboratory test was conducted in test rigs designed to simulate theconditions oftemperatureand ammonia concentration found in the desorber component of advanced ammonia-water absorption systems. The test compared the NC gas generation rate in a rig with cerated steel surfaces to a rig using sodium chromate as a solution based inhibitor. The cerated test rig demonstr ated an NC gas generation rate about 3 times lower than that of the chromate protected rig. Neither rig showed any indications of significant corrosion activity. This workhas shown that cerating can provide superior suppression of NC gas generation in ammonia-water absorption systems compared to sodium chromate, in a process that is simple and readily applicable to the commercial manufacture of equipment.
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