Evaluation of Wear on Copper Pipes Deposited in Different Environments: An Understanding of Damage in Geothermal Heat Exchangers

This study presents the evaluation and comparison of damage in samples of commercial copper pipes exposed to different environments: atmospheric conditions, underground, seawater, and river water. These environments were selected to contrast the alterations in outer diameter and thickness that pipes used in geothermal heat exchangers may undergo. The exposure period for the samples was 155 days, with results measured experimentally and analyzed statistically. The findings indicate that the samples exposed to seawater and underground conditions exhibit the greatest reductions in outer diameter and thickness, respectively, while the sample exposed to atmospheric conditions does not show a significant damage rate.