U.S.-UK Cooperative Research: Corrosion, Oxygen Mass Transfer and Heat Transfer

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This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Euan Somerscales, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Drs. A.D. Mercer, P.E. Francis and A. Turnbull, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington, Middlesex, England. The objective of the project is the study of the transport of oxygen to a corroding heat transfer surface, using a unique piece of experimental equipment at the NPL. The corrosion of heat transfer surfaces by flowing water can result in loss of material from the surface and eventual perforation. In addition, the accumulation of corrosion products introduces a thermal resistance which impedes the transfer of heat. This is a topic of technical importance because of the almost universal use of water of various qualities, as a medium of heating or cooling. In spite of this, the corrosion of heat transfer surfaces is not well understood from the fundamental point of view. Consequently, quantitative information of the type that would permit the designer and user of heat transfer equipment to predict with confidence the effects of corrosion on its life is not available. The proposed investigation will provide data on the mass transport rate of oxygen to a corroding surface under heat transfer conditions in turbulent flow. The results of this research will make a significant contribution to the development of methods to predict the operating life and performance of heat transfer equipment, such as cooling passages of internal combustion engines, steam power plant condensers, and receivers of solar collectors. The project will benefit from the complementary expertise of the U.S. and British investigators in the area of corrosion fouling of heat transfer surfaces, and from the availability of unique experimental equipment at NPL to carry out the proposed studies.