Background

Compressed air is an essential part of many industrial processes, including fertilizer production. Fertilizer companies formulate a chemistry that provides nutrients necessary for vegetation to grow and thrive. The basic macronutrients needed for plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sulfur. The fertilizer products that deliver these essential elements are commercially available in both dry pellet and liquid forms.

While the effects of using fertilizer may be beneficial for plant life, the processes used to produce them can be detrimental to metal piping. Chemical dust and fumes, combined with humidity in the air may leave a thin chemical coating on surfaces within a facility that can wreak havoc on metal compressed air systems.

Problem

A fertilizer company in Florida was experiencing corrosion of their compressed air piping system caused by this type of chemical coating created during production. They had tried replacing the pipe using different metals, including aluminum, but the issues continued. A better, more permanent solution was needed.

Read the full case study here.