RP-1645 -- Development of New Accelerated Corrosion Test(s) for All-Aluminum Microchannel and Tube and Fin Heat Exchangers PDF

Manufacturers ofall-aluminum microchannel and round tube plate fin heat exchangers use varietyof corrosion tests that are varied in parameters assessed, test duration, andrelevance to actual field conditions. The purpose of this investigation is tostudy three realms of corrosive atmospheres (1), alloy metallurgical parameters(2), and mode of heat exchangers operation (3). Previous investigations havenot considered these three realms simultaneously. Specifically, the mode ofheat exchanger duty cycle as it relates to corrosion and degradation of heatexchanger alloys (realm 3) has not been investigated before. Corrosion testsperformed in the past focused on different alloy metallurgies (realm 2) andbrazing parameters (for microchannels) which makes generalization of resultsobtained very difficult. Simulated corrosion test atmosphere used in many ofthe previous investigations did not closely duplicate real corrosiveatmospheres experienced by heat exchangers. For