Where do exchangers in cooling water service experience the highest corrosion rates?

In cooling water service, exchangers experience the highest corrosion rates at locations where the water temperature is highest. This is because elevated temperatures can enhance the corrosion process through several mechanisms. Higher temperatures typically increase the reaction rates of chemical processes, leading to accelerated corrosion. Furthermore, hotter water can be less effective at dissolving oxygen and other corrosive species, which can lead to localized corrosion issues, such as pitting, especially in metals that are sensitive to temperature variations.

Additionally, temperature variations can cause thermal cycling, which may induce stress and lead to cracking or other failure modes that further exacerbate corrosion problems. Therefore, it's essential from an inspection and maintenance perspective to monitor temperatures in cooling systems meticulously to mitigate the effects of corrosion at these high-temperature locations.