Failure Analysis of Air Vent Connected with Heat Supply Pipeline Under Manhole

Abstract

The air vent connected to a heat supply pipeline in the district heating system has been used to eliminate the existing air in the pipe, which has a detrimental effect on corrosion durability and heat efficiency. Recently, the air vent installed under a manhole for 22 years was corroded and several pinholes were detected in the front-end of the air vent. To identify the cause of the failure, thickness reduction, corrosion products, and water quality were examined. The corrosion damage was significant at the outside of the front-end of the air vent where the insulator was covered. While a thin oxide layer was formed in the interior of the tube, the coarse and porous corrosion products consisting of magnetite and hematite were found externally. Water flowing into the thermal insulator was absorbed by the insulator following hydrolysis. The hydrolyzed insulator ejected the corrosion factors such as Cl-, SO42-, and NH4+. The findings suggest that the corrosion under insulation due to rain water is the main cause of the underlying failure in the air vent.