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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Monitoring biofilm formation in a brackish water cooled power plant environment

Conference ·
OSTI ID:509473
 [1];  [2]
  1. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., San Jose, CA (United States)
  2. Corrosion Failure Analysis and Control, San Ramon, CA (United States)
Power plants have experienced severe corrosion, including microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in cooling water systems. This attack has resulted in decreased plant availability and significantly increased operations and maintenance costs. Copper base alloys, carbon steels and stainless steels have all been susceptible. In a number of instances, replacement of piping and heat exchangers has been required to alleviate corrosion-related problems. Monitoring is a key element to improved corrosion and fouling control in cooling water systems. On-line methods provide evaluations of corrosion rates in real time and are sensitive to localized corrosion. Electrochemical methods of corrosion measurement are readily automated, both for acquisition of corrosion data and for process control. Electrochemical probes for on-line monitoring of biofilm activity were exposed to a slowly flowing, brackish cooling water environment to assess system performance at Pacific Gas and Electric Company`s Pittsburgh Power Plant.
Sponsoring Organization:
Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
OSTI ID:
509473
Report Number(s):
CONF-970332--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English