Method of Assessing the Influence of Gaseous Hydrogen on Corrosion and Hydrogenation of Steels

A laboratory method has been developed to investigate the gaseous hydrogen effect on the intensity of electrochemical processes on pipe steels under the action of a model medium simulating condensate at the pipe’s inner surface. It is based on the measurement of electrochemical parameters of steel under conditions of gaseous hydrogen bubbling and simulates operating conditions when hydrogen saturates a thin layer of condensate inside the pipe. On the example of API 5L X70 pipe steel significant effect of hydrogen on its electrochemical behavior under such conditions is established. It is concluded that the saturation of the model medium with hydrogen significantly accelerates the corrosion of steel and its hydrogenation.