The Threat of Corrosion to Power Plant Equipment
As we all know, corrosion shortens the life of power plant process equipment. Protecting boiler tubes, condensers, and wet parts within small industrial boilers, HRSG combined cycle power plants, and large gas, oil, and coal-fired power plants from corrosion is critical during short-term layups and long-term plant outages. Without protection, corrosion can occur on these wet parts at an alarming rate during shutdowns.
Chemical Solution – Harmful to the Environment
If the water can circulate within these power plant components during shutdown, one solution is to inject chemical inhibitors into the water stream. However, introducing such chemicals into the system has become less desirable due to the environmental issues related to their disposal. If the water is drained from the wetted parts, residual water remains inside, and along with the oxygen (air) introduced during the draining process, corrosion begins.
Nitrogen Solution – The Environmentally Friendly Answer
Nitrogen, which makes up 79% of our air, has been used for years to protect against corrosion in power plant equipment and similar applications. It is the perfect “green” solution for corrosion protection in power plant equipment. Nitrogen is inert, and by displacing the oxygen within the wetted parts with a low-pressure, slow-flow nitrogen purge, you ultimately inhibit the oxidation/corrosion process.
In the past, power plants purchased either high-pressure cylinders or liquid bulk nitrogen banks to provide this form of corrosion protection. Today, with the installation of a nitrogen generator at your facility, you can generate your own nitrogen at a fraction of the cost compared to buying nitrogen cylinders or bulk liquid nitrogen. Additionally, you can produce nitrogen on demand and never run out.How Does a Nitrogen Generator Benefit the Power Plant?
The nitrogen generator mechanically separates nitrogen molecules from other molecules found in the air and stores the nitrogen until it is needed for your process. South-Tek Systems offers a complete line of reliable, cost-effective nitrogen generators sized for your application. By using our Flow Rate Verification System and knowing the required nitrogen flow rates, a nitrogen generator can be appropriately sized and installed at your facility, allowing you to realize the significant cost savings offered by this technology.