Field Test Results of Corrosion-Resistant Coatings for Carbon-Steel Steam Condensate Return Lines

Steam heat is still used at many U.S. Army installations. Condensate return lines, which convey the liquid condensate that occurs throughout the system back to the boiler, form an integral part of steam distribution systems. Steam condensate return lines degrade through several site-specific mechanisms that result in corrosion and cause these systems to fail before reaching their expected design life. This report presents the results of field tests done at an Army installation using corrosion-resistant phenolic coatings to mitigate these degradation processes. The coatings were found to be effective in mitigating condensate corrosion preliminary results indicate that this coating may extend the expected service life of condensate return lines by at least 10 percent. Phenolic coating, Condensate return Lines, Corrosion resistant coatings, Corrosion mitigation, Steam distribution system