316L SS Rotary Valve Impellers – Corrosion / Metallurgical Evaluation

316L SS valve impellers corrosion investigation (SEM Image of Pitting)
316L SS valve impellers corrosion investigation (SEM Image of Pitting)

Corrosion and Metallurgical Analysis on Two Type 316L SS Rotary Valve Impellers Exhibiting Pitting.

The impellers are used in cheese curd production. The pitting was localized, biased towards the keyed drive end of the rotors, reportedly the same location where convey air is introduced into the valve. The convey air was reported to be as high as 170 degrees F, and promoted deposit formation and concentrated salts due to dry-out of the impeller surface adjacent to the convey air outlet during valve operation.

This dry-out and re-wetting cycle resulted in a saturated salt solution on the wet blade surfaces, and when combined with the calcium phosphate deposits, formed a crevice condition at 170 degrees F that exceeded the critical crevice pitting temperature (CCPT) for Type 316L SS impellers. Continued use of Type 316L SS for these impellers with reduced or no pitting would therefore require a significant reduction in convey air temperatures. If convey air temperatures cannot be reduced, use of an alloy exhibiting higher pitting resistance would be required.


 

O’Donnell Consulting Engineers Performs Design, Analysis and Troubleshooting Services for Clients in Industries including Pharmaceutical, Water and Food Production.

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