Abstract
Cost of ownership can be reduced for piping systems in highly corrosive leaching, electrorefining, electrowinning, chemical waste, reclaim, and wastewater streams by applying an unbiased comparison across modern piping systems available today. Most manufacturers focus on one material type, and most engineers focus just on thermoplastics or metallics. Lined steel has been selected for the worst streams, but the metallic exterior piping is still a corrosion and maintenance issue for those who do not know how to compare manufacturing quality across brands. Broadening the scope of piping brands and material selection uncovers alternatives to match specific applications. An unbiased comparison will be shared from Andronaco Industries, a company who manufactures piping and tank total systems in many different material types. All piping system material types compared will be fully commercialized except for a discussion related to gaps in performance or cost where alternative liners or added structural integrity or higher or lower temperature performance is required. Also discussed will be how standards do not cover newer nonmetallic systems well, and work is underway to improve that. Pictures, use cases, and outcomes of actual pipe in continuous highly corrosive service will be shared in addition to a salt fog study which compares various material types. A case study of polymer-lined engineered structural composite will demonstrate how material change can lead to over 10 years of near zero maintenance compared to regular replacement of pipe. There will be learning opportunities for every technical person (engineer or mechanic) who is looking for new solutions to real problems across highly corrosive services in mining and is open to considering nonmetallic materials and systems to increase uptime and lower cost of ownership at the mining facility.