1. Why is mercury concentration important?

In general, mercury will not react with aluminium unless it is allowed to exist in contact with the heat exchanger in its
liquid state and there is water present. If these conditions exist within a heat exchanger, then mercury contamination
can result in problems. This attack is most severe when coupled with another corrosion process.

Another possible problem resulting from mercury in the process stream affects aluminium alloys that contain a high
level of magnesium. A rapid reaction of mercury with a magnesium-based secondary phase within the aluminium can
take place in the absence of water. If features are not designed into the equipment to address this problem and
conditions are conducive, mercury corrosion cracking can occur and propagate at substantially lower levels of stress
than that required if mercury were not present.

Mercury concentrations in feed gases can vary with time, even from the same source.

2. What mercury concentrations can be handled?

Plate-fin heat exchanger systems should not be operated in environments where mercury concentrations are greater
than 0.1 micrograms/Nm3. Above this limit, mercury guard beds should be installed and mercury tolerant features
should be considered in the design of the exchanger. See Section 8.3.2 for guidance.

Liquid metal embrittlement (LME) results in the brittle failure of a normally ductile
metal alloy
in the presence of tensile stress (either applied or residual) and a specific liquid
metal.
Temperature, stress, and liquid metal wetting are the principal factors that influence
LME in a
specific alloy/liquid metal couple. Removal of any one of these factors eliminates
the risk of
LME. Secondary factors promoting LME are alloy composition and grain size.
The major concern for LME in an LNG Plant arises from exposure of aluminum alloys
in the
cold box to accumulated mercury from the feed gas. The amount of mercury and its
location
in the cryogenic exchangers is often unknown, and not easily estimated. As long as
the cold
temperature remains below the freezing point of Mercury, -38.8C (-37.9F), no LME
problems exist. However, at some point the cold exchangers will be shut down, and
reach
ambient temperatures, where mercury melts, exists as a stable liquid, and LME of
aluminum
alloys can result.

The basic materials selection philosophy used is:

For temperatures warmer than -29C (-20F), carbon steel (CS) is used
Where temperature is colder than -29C (-20F) but warmer than -46C
(-51F), low-temperature carbon steel (LTCS) or impact tested CS is specified
For temperatures colder than -46C (-51F), Austenitic Stainless Steel is specified