How can you implement a corrosion prevention plan for your pipelines? It’s not easy since corrosion is a part of nature’s process to break down materials.
It’s also the main cause of pipeline and storage tank leaks and breakdowns. These breakdowns cost up to $17 billion, according to NACE International.
Are you looking for ways to protect your pipelines from corrosion and economic catastrophe?
Read on for ways that proper corrosion prevention can save your pipelines.
What Causes Corrosion?
To understand how to best protect against corrosion, we have to first look at the underlying causes of corrosion.
Most pipelines are made from galvanized steel and coated with protective paint. Looking at steel at the cellular level, there are 4 components: an anode, cathode, electrolyte and a connected electronic path. These components make a galvanized cell.
Corrosion happens when the protective paint is compromised and the steel is exposed. These four components come into contact with soil or water. When exposed to the elements, the anodes and cathodes carry an opposite polar charge, connected by the electronic current.
The anodes then break down at a fast pace, causing corrosion. The corrosion then spreads throughout the pipeline, causing a tremendous amount of damage.
One of the main areas where corrosion occurs is around pipe supports. Pipe supports have a tendency to rub against the pipes, which can cause the protective paint to wear down. Water can also be trapped between the pipe and support. This combination can initiate the process of corrosion.
Once corrosion begins under pipe supports, it’s virtually impossible to inspect and maintain.
Wear Pads for Corrosion Prevention
There are multiple ways to protect your pipelines from corrosion.
Most pipelines have some sort of protective coating. The thing to understand about corrosion is that if one small area of the coating is cracked, that small area becomes vulnerable to the elements and corrosion.
That small area can make your entire pipeline vulnerable to corrosion.
By using wear pads in conjunction with pipe saddles, you can prevent metal to metal contact and prevent moisture from building up around the joint.
The thing is that not any wear pad is sure to protect pipes from corrosion.
Wear pads that separate the pipes from the support beam can prevent the direct contact. That would prevent the protective paint from breaking down.
The other critical piece is to have a wear pad that prevents moisture build up. Dynagard’s wear pads have a high-bond strength adhesive liner to prevent moisture from penetrating the support area.
Leave Corrosion Prevention to Professionals
Are you still concerned about the potential damage caused by corrosion? It’s easy to understand why, given how much economic and infrastructure damage can happen as a result.
Corrosion prevention requires a professional and experienced firm to diagnose and resolve potential hazards.
At DynaGard, we have over 15 years of experience working with the largest oil companies to protect their pipelines from corrosion, saving them time and money.
Contact us today for samples of our pipeline products. Our team is available to answer your questions.
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