Some of the modern boilers using heavy fuel oil have troubles due to the corrorsion of the low temperature heat exchange surfaces. The corrosion is generally caused by sulfur compounds in the fuel. Sulfur is oxidized to SO
2 on combustion, and a small portion of SO
2 is further oxidized to SO
3. The SO
3 causes a rise in the dew point of flue gases to the extent of 100 to 150°C, and the metal surfaces temperature of which is lower than acid dew point are corroded by condensed sulfuric acid solution.
This paper shows the apparatus and methods to determine corrosive nature of flue gases; dew point, rate of acid build-up, concentration of SO
2 and SO
3, and rate of corrosion, which we have used in our reserch of the troubles in the oil fired boilers.
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