Corrosion Monitoring Techniques in Subcritical and Supercritical Water Environments

Abstract

A series of advanced equipment exposed to sub-/supercritical water environments at high temperatures, high pressures, and extreme water chemistry with high salt and dissolved oxygen content faces serious corrosion problems. Obtaining on-site corrosion data for typical materials in harsh environments is crucial for operating and maintaining related equipment and optimizing various corrosion prediction models. First, this article introduces the advantages and disadvantages, usage scenarios, and future development potential of several in situ monitoring technologies, including ultrasonic thickness measurement, the infrared thermography method, microwave imaging, eddy current detection, and acoustic emission. Considering the importance of electrochemical corrosion data in revealing microscale and nanoscale corrosion mechanisms, in situ testing techniques such as electrical resistance probes, electrochemical corrosion potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and electrochemical noise that can be applied to sub-/supercritical water systems were systematically discussed. The testing platform and typical data obtained were discussed with thick and heavy colors to establish a mechanical prediction model for corrosion behavior. It is of great significance to promote the development of corrosion monitoring techniques, such as breaking through testing temperature limitations and broadening the industrial application scenarios and maturity.