Two-dimensional numerical analysis of differential concentration corrosion in seawater pipeline

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a new two-dimensional differential concentration corrosion mathematical model based on the knowledge that oxygen distribution on the surface of the seawater pipe is two-dimensional. Design/methodology/approach The ionic conductive layer element near the pipeline wall is regarded as the research object, and the finite element method is adopted to obtain the oxygen distribution in the layers and the natural corrosion potential and natural corrosion current of each element. Then, these element sets are regarded as a whole circuit and each element as a node on the circuit; the equation is satisfied by the corrosion potential after polarization is derived for each element according to Kirchhoff’s second law. Findings Matlab is used to solve the equation sets, and the overall corrosion current is calculated. The results are quite different from those considered without the differential concentration corrosion. If the differential concentration corrosion is not considered, the location with high oxygen concentration on the pipeline wall has a large corrosion potential and current. If corrosion is considered, the potential will cause polarization and the positions with original higher corrosion potential will produce anodic polarization. Meanwhile, the speed of corrosion also decreases. At the same time, the position with original lower corrosion potential will produce cathodic polarization, and the corrosion current is also increased, namely, the corrosion current and the potential will be homogenized. Originality/value A two-dimensional model for the study of concentration corrosion is proposed creatively. Based on the knowledge of electricity, a discrete equation of corrosion potential after polarization is derived. The distribution of corrosion potential and corrosion current is obtained by solving the equation, and the mechanism of concentration corrosion is analyzed. The law of concentration polarization corrosion is also obtained.