November 3, 2011

Nuclear Power Plant Leaks Due to Corrosion

Filed under: CP Remote Monitoring,cathodic protection,remote monitoring — Tags: , , — admin @ 10:09 pm

Three-fourths of commercial nuclear power plants in the United States have been found to have leaked radioactive tritium into the earth through corroded pipelines. These incidents have been escalating throughout the years, as more reactors are being licensed by federal regulators.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that at least 48 of 65 sites leaked tritium. Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen. Out of these 48 leaks, at least 37 of them reported concentrations that exceeded the federal drinking water standard. However, rarely any of the leaks were found to have spread beyond the plant boundaries and into the public water supplies. Two plants in Illinois contaminated nearby homes, but the levels did not violate the drinking water standard.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, tritium levels should not exceed more than 20,000 picocuries per liter of drinking water. Specialists have also estimated that those exposed to this type of water may have the possibility of developing cancer. Although the statistical estimation is extremely low, they say there is a small percentage that cancer may still develop.

Reactors have been affected by corrosion for decades. During the years 2000 and 2009, documentations reported 38 leaks from underground pipelines. Practically two-thirds of those reportings were found within the past five years.

Although, many nuclear power plant representatives may take these leakings light heartedly, safety officials continue to stress the precautions we need to take on this issue. A former advisory committee member on Reactor Safeguards stated that a leak is a problem in itself. The leak itself is an issue. In addition, the leaks say a lot about the piping and can be a warning to more drastic problems to come.

There are, however, been efforts to stop the leaks. More monitoring wells have been drilled, along with the replacement of old pipes. Up to now, 66 reactors have been extended a 20 year extension on their original licenses. More reactors are currently pending for approval.

October 26, 2011

Ethanol Corrosion Studies

Filed under: cathodic protection — Tags: , , , — admin @ 7:53 pm

The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently conducted a study that discovered that ethanol contained bacteria that were harmful to pipelines. The NIST found that these certain bacteria caused corrosion in pipelines.

The use of ethanol has grown tremendously popular in recent years. The biofuel has been and is commonly added to fuel for its high octane property. There are even some machines that can run completely on the biofuel. Apparently, the NIST performed tests on a commonly used pipeline material, steel, and exposed ethanol to it. These tests were the result of recent proposals to transport ethanol through existing gas pipelines and other types of framework. The study found that the certain bacteria in the biofuel did indeed corrode and crack the steel.

The researchers identified the harmful bacteria as Acebacter aceti. Acebacter aceti is rich in alcoholic conditions. This bacteria is used in the fermentation industry. However, Acebacter aceti that is created from ethanol can cause pipelines to crack by an increased 25 times.

The studies involved submerging different Tow pipeline steels in various ethanol concoctions. The tests resulted in cracks in the steel and this was said to be directly related to corrosion. Researchers also declared that further investigation was necessary before transporting ethanol into existing pipelines because, at this time, ethanol could pose serious damage.

October 18, 2011

TurnBull Bridge in Florida Closes

Filed under: CP Remote Monitoring,CP Test Stations,cathodic protection — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:54 pm

The forty-four year old Turnbull Bridge in New Smyrna Beach, Florida has been shut down after county inspectors found what they called “severe corrosion” on the support beams. County officials began maintenance on the bridge immediately and are calling it a ten month long project.

A large section of concrete beam was found deteriorating, as other parts of the beam had fallen into the water. The deterioration has been said to have been caused by water that had been splashed onto the beams. Inspectors believe the water entered the concrete through the microscopic cracks thus corroding the interior steel cables. The cables then must have expanded causing further cracking and deteriorating of the concrete.

In 2010, the bridge was labeled “structurally deficient” when the corrosion was first observed. That led to biennial, rather than annual, inspections of the bridge. Residents began raising funds for the restoration of the bridge, until the bridge recently closed after further investigation.

The bridge was expected to close in 2013 due to the corrosion; however, construction is now expected to begin in the fall of 2012. The total cost of the bridge’s construction is estimated to be approximately $4 million. Other costs will be felt by local business owners and residents who will be affected by the closing of the bridge.

More bridges are also facing problems of corrosion across the country.

October 13, 2011

U.S.S. Independence Deals With Corrosion

Filed under: CP Remote Monitoring,CP Test Stations,cathodic protection — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 12:18 am

U.S. Navy littoral combat ship, the U.S.S. Independence, will have to have its corroded hull repaired in San Diego, California. The U.S.S. Independence was manufactured at Austal USA’s Mobile River shipyard.  Approximately 18 months after the ship set sail, the corrosion began to develop. The U.S. Navy apparently had very high expectations for the vessel.

The U.S.S. Independence is the second littoral combat ship developed for the U.S. Navy. The first littoral combat ship is known as the U.S.S. Freedom. The U.S.S. Independence was constructed mainly of aluminum. The design and the aluminum were said to be the reason for the active development of the corrosion.

However, president and chief operating officer of Austal, Joe Rella, gave in response that the corrosion was very surprising for the company. Rella discussed the high level of measures Austal takes in regards to anti-corrosion.

According to MarineLog.com, Rella stated, “The Navy and Austal team have a solid understanding of corrosion mitigating measures.” He also went on to say that the corrosion issue is even more surprising due to the fact that company officials talk regularly with the U.S. Navy officials.

The Independence is scheduled for an upcoming application of a protection system. Meanwhile, Austal is still contracted to develop 10 more littoral combat ships for the U.S Navy.

Such vessels need to be equiped with a better corrosion monitoring system to both protect and give the vessel stronger support.

October 5, 2011

Welcome Comanche® Remote Monitoring and Control System

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 10:48 pm

Introducing the COMANCHE® remote monitoring and control system. Borin’s technology enables both analog and digital monitoring  and control. Analog monitoring provides remote values of anything imaginable including voltage, amperage, temperatures, pressure, and fluid levels. Digital monitoring enables monitoring of remote states such as on or off lights or activated or deactivated alarms. The COMANCHE® analog control allows management of remote values of voltage on any device, temperatures in buildings, fluid levels, and much more. Borin’s  advanced technology also enables controlling of remote states such as turning lights on or off, starting and stopping pumps, activating and deactivating alarms, and more.

All monitoring, control, and reporting is automatic with the COMANCHE®, and it is capable of having unlimited remote sites. This remote monitoring and control system can work with various forms of communication as well, including internet and telephone. The COMANCHE® also includes its own alarm and warning management system that provides 8 priority levels, overiding capabilities, unlimited communications, and permanent record logging. Most importantly, the COMANCHE® includes a data integrity management system that provides data protocol. This data protocol system ensures accurate and precise transmissions of sent and received controls and readings. Essentially, this system will allow you to control and monitor any remote device with the highest level of security, reporting, and dependability.

April 28, 2011

Introduction of the SNITCH Wireless Remote Monitoring Unit to the Propane Industry

Filed under: Propane Industry — Tags: , — ray @ 7:06 pm

After 20 years of experience, with 185,000 Remote Monitoring Units sold to the Natural Gas, Pipeline, Oil, and Corrosion Industries Worldwide and, more than 30,000 units sold to the Propane Industry in Europe, Borin Manufacturing is now introducing the SNITCHTM Wireless Remote Monitoring Unit. The SNITCHTM is a compact plug-and-play remote monitoring device for monitoring fuel levels in propane tanks. The SNITCHTM is completely wireless and installs in minutes. The SNITCHTM is battery powered and communicates to a Web based data center via an integrated GSM data channel. The SNITCHTM was introduced at the National Propane Gas Association / NPGA International Propane EXPO in Atlanta, Georgia and received a wide acceptance from the Propane Industry.

October 25, 2010

Principles of Cathodic Protection

Filed under: Uncategorized,cathodic protection — Tags: , , — admin @ 11:10 pm

Corrosion is the separation of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. It is the action wherein metal will transform to its original form of ore when it is interacted with water and oxygen. The process of changing from metal to a combined form is an anodic reaction. The most known example of corrosion is rusting which is caused by the formation of an oxide of iron due to the oxidation of the iron atoms in solid solution. Corrosion is caused by the following:

➢ Change in the ordinary potential in bimetallic couples.
➢ Difference in the metallurgical structure of the metal at various points on the outside.
➢ Changes in the environment such as the supply of air at the surface, wherein areas with strong winds becomes the cathode and those with little source of oxygen or air becomes the anode.

Yet, problems of corrosion are solved through a technique called Cathodic Protection (CP). Its principle is in connecting outside anode to the metal for protection and electricity is passed in order that the surface of the metal is cathodic therefore preventing corrosion. A sound cathodic protection design involves half cell (a structure that contains a conductive electrode and a surrounding conductive electrolyte) with test point all over the protected area.

There are two ways in achieving cathodic protection. It is either by using galvanic anodes (also called sacrificial anodes) or by using “impressed current”. Cathodic protection using galvanic anode systems uses reactive metals as secondary anodes and they are directly connected electrically to the steel to be protected. Commonly used metals as sacrificial anodes are aluminum, magnesium and zinc. They are alloyed metals are used and they are used to improve lasting performance and dissolution characteristics. Cathodic protection using impressed-current systems uses inactive anodes and uses an external source of dc power to impress a current from an external anode onto the cathode surface.

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