RENEWABLE ENERGY
BEYOND CORROSION
Dinko Cudic explains why energy operators should be changing the way they regard corrosion protection
to preventing it from happening in the first place. Te challenge is whether these coatings are used at the outset and whether they will actually stand the test of time. Add to that the time to apply and you have a new challenge of satisfying both contractors and end users at the same time. We could then add in stringent standards and approvals and the checklist keeps on growing. It’s easy to stop corrosion or decay of the material, eliminate the oxygen and water electrolyte and we break the corrosion cell that leads to electrochemical corrosion. How is it done? By placing a barrier over the surface to be protected and block it from the environment. Tink encapsulation. In the food processing industry this
W
is like vacuum-packing your groceries to keep them fresh, in the water industry it is known as polyethylene encasement for ductile iron or simply as sleeving. Going
36
www.engineerlive.com
hile we continue to fight corrosion and extend the life of assets, coatings have developed from simply stopping corrosion
back in time, conservation was conducted by keeping moisture away from meat and vegetables to wood and steel using fat, wax, tree sap or honey. So whether using advanced impermeable barriers such as PE or PP or more rustic ones such as honey, they all lead to encapsulation of the material and therefore prevention of decay. Take the analogy of honey and add in a ISO 21809-3 standardised term – non-curing, non-crystalline and fully amorphous low viscosity polyolefin coating and you have Easy-Qote. A coating that offers immediate protection of the surface giving a barrier that blocks oxygen and water, therefore avoiding corrosion.
Tis kind of
approach opens new possibilities in protecting not only “new build”
Coatings are moving beyond mitigating the effects of corrosion to actually stopping it from occuring
but also easy ways of applying this barrier or coating over existing and aged assets across the globe. Specifically, assets found in remote areas and distant locations where accessibility is a challenge – consider onshore and offshore wind farms. Accessibility to these structures requires planning, equipment and manpower. Teir locations also bring the challenge of changing environmental conditions whether high winds, torrential rain, extreme heat or extreme cold. In the power sector there is also the consideration for keeping energy flowing
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
