Online Ultratrace Analysis of Corrosion in Power Plants

This Process Application Note discusses the online ultratrace analysis of iron and copper in power plants, focusing on corrosion monitoring in the water-steam circuit. Corrosion significantly impacts the longevity of metal components, leading to potential safety hazards and increased maintenance costs. Traditional monitoring methods take up to three weeks for analysis, which is insufficient for timely intervention. The document details a method that provides results within 20 minutes, allowing for quicker responses to out-of-specification readings. By integrating this analysis with the power plant's Distributed Control System (DCS), operators can proactively manage corrosion, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime. The application note outlines the process of sample preparation and photometric determination of iron and copper concentrations, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring to prevent damage to critical components such as turbine blades. This method aligns with industry standards for corrosion product sampling and analysis.