Assessment of Corrosion in Air Conditioning Units for Buildings in the State of Kuwait

يرى الباحث بأن غاز كبريتيد الهيدروجين الملوث والمتصاعد من محطات تنقية الصرف الصحي ومصادر التلوث الأخرى تؤثر على أداء وحدات التكييف المركزية في المناطق السكنية القريبة منها، حيث تزيد من نسبة تآكل أجزاء المكيف مثل أنابيب النخاس وفواصل الأنابيب الملحومة وصفائح الألمونيوم الرقيقة. لذا فإن المشروع سيتطرق الى تقييم الخواص المعدنية والتآكلية لاجزاء التكييف يتبعها دراسة امثل الطرق لعملية اللحام وعملية التغطية بالأصباغ.

This project is concerned with the impacts of hydrogen sulphide polluted gas released from sewage treatment plants and other sources of pollution in Kuwait, the deterioration of central air condition units located in residential areas in its vicinity. The effect of the level of pollution by H2S gas released on the degree of corrosion of air condition components, such as copper coils, copper brazed joints, electrical contacts and aluminium fin sheet materials will be determined. The proposal addresses corrosion failures in air condition systems. The study will focus on corrosion performance and paint protection of heat exchangers materials. A comprehensive experimental work will be carried out by evaluating the metallurgical and corrosion properties of copper coils, brazed copper joint and aluminium fin stock materials. More importantly, there will be testing, screening of several protective coating systems and finally, selecting best coating formulation for AC service operation condition. Selection criteria for the candidate coating materials will be based on its minimal effect on the heat transfer efficiency of the AC system and its ability to withstand acid attack, high tubing temperature, UV degradation and, finally, its economic feasibility. The effect of brazing method, coating application and materials surface preparation procedure for both new and old copper coils for air condition systems will also be taken into consideration.