A review of research progress on the corrosion behavior and relevant protection techniques of liquid ammonia under complex transmission environments

Abstract

[Objective] Against the backdrop of the “dual carbon” initiative, ammonia has emerged as a carbon-free and hydrogen-rich energy carrier with exceptional growth potential. It offers advantages such as high volumetric energy density, and easy liquefaction and storage.However, complex environmental conditions for storage and transmission pose significant risks of corrosion to liquid ammonia tanks and pipelines. Therefore, it is essential to research liquid ammonia corrosion under complex transmission environments to ensure the construction and safe operation of “ammonia-hydrogen” energy infrastructure. [Methods] Through an investigation into the research progress related to liquid ammonia corrosion, this review explored the ammonia corrosion behavior and the mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking of different materials within various environments. Additionally, it provided a comprehensive overview of ammonia corrosion detection techniques and protection measures, along with insights into the future trends in ammonia corrosion research. [Results] This review highlights the following conclusions: The presence of oxygen, carbon oxides, sulfides, and chlorides accelerates ammonia corrosion, while water impurities exhibit a two-sided influence. Stress can potentially lead to stress corrosion cracking in liquid ammonia, with materials such as copper and its alloys being more susceptible, followed by high-strength steel and carbon steel. [Conclusion] To address the need for clarifying the mechanisms of liquid ammonia corrosion behavior and improving ammonia corrosion prevention measures in China, the following recommendations are put forth:(1) Conduct experiments and simulations to study the liquid ammonia corrosion behavior and internal corrosion mechanisms of different materials in the presence of multiple impurities.(2) Carry out critical failure boundary inspections and corrosion risk assessment in the context of pipeline steel and welding consumables with liquid ammonia,taking into consideration the actual transmission environments and material failure characteristics.(3) Establish a comprehensive corrosion control,protection,and evaluation standard system for liquid ammonia storage and transmission,encompassing various aspects such as design,material selection,manufacturing,and operation,and incorporating diverse corrosion prevention measures.

Keywords

• liquid ammonia storage and transmission
• environmental corrosion
• stress corrosion
• corrosion detection
• protection technique