Influence of solid-state CaS-CaO-CaSO₄ deposits on corrosion of high-temperature alloys in simulated FBC environments

Abstract

This study addresses questions concerning the likelihood of sulfidation attack of heat-exchanger alloys beneath deposits of sulfur-sorbent material in fluidized-bed combustors. Alloy specimens were exposed at 900°C in calcium sulfate-calcium oxide and calcium sulfide-calcium oxide mixtures, in environments in which the oxygen partial pressures were fixed at values corresponding to the equilibrium values for each solids mixture, using controlled ratios of CO and CO₂. The only source of sulfur in these systems was the calcium sulfate or sulfide. Sulfidation attack of nickel-base alloys occurred in both mixtures, the calcium sulfide-calcium oxide mixture being the more aggressive. Iron-base alloys were less susceptible to attack, although susceptibility increased with increasing nickel content. FeCrAlY-type alloys were resistant to attack. Comparison with corrosion behavior under conditions in which the oxygen and sulfur partial pressures were the same as those used here, but in which the sulfur source was in the gas phase, indicates that the form of the sulfidation attack is similar but that its progress is much slower under solid deposits.