Causas e formas de corrosão na unidade de recuperação de enxofre da Refinaria Gabriel Passos (REGAP/PETROBRAS)

Abstract

This work aims at to contribute for the determination of the mechanisms and forms of steel corrosion carbon that occurs in equipment of the Sulphur Recovery Unit (URE) of the Refinery Gabriel Passos (REGAP/PETROBRAS). The products of the refining of the oil pass for treatment processes to take care of to the specifications related to the corrosivity, percentage of sulphur, acidity, odor, formation of pollutant composites, color alteration, amongst others. Sulphur is removed of the products in the form of H2S, acid gas, and this is sent for the URE for the sulphur production. The gases in the URE are H2S, CO2, SO2 andSO3that are corrosive to the equipment manufactured in steel carbon. The URE paralyzes its activities due to the emptying of sulphur, or acid gas for the atmosphere. This fact already occurred due to equipment imperfection produced for severe and generalized corrosion. The importance of this work is that the study of the corrosion in the URE it will go to contribute for the improvement of the control of the corrosive process, that generates economic serious damages in such a way as ambient. Due to corrosion in the installations of the URE, the stop of the unit occurs, and the acid gas load is burn causing ambient pollution, with the release of SOx for the atmosphere, and the stoppage of the elementary sulphur production. They had been raised given of process and to leave of them identified the probable causes of the corrosion. The URE does not use no method of prevention of the corrosion, as coverings or cathodic protection, being the corrosion in controlled steel carbon for the control of the Claus Process of sulphur production.