CorrTech, Inc. and Talen Energy Presents In-Service Above Group Storage Tank Internal & External Condition Assessment
EPRI BPIG CPUG Annual Meeting
Feb 14-16 2023
Houston, TX
This presentation discusses the problem with stainless steel appurtenances in water tanks, presents data from a number of installations in New England where corrosion has occurred. Possible solutions are discussed.
Galvanic corrosion results when dissimilar metals are electrically connected and exposed to a common electrolyte. The material with the highest electrochemical energy level (anodicmaterial) would experience corrosion, called the anode, and the other material (cathodicmaterial) would not experience corrosion.
In internally lined, or coated steel water tanks, galvanic corrosion would be expected, and has been documented, from connections between ferrous materials such as steel and stainless steel. In this corrosion cell, the ferrous materials would corrode relative to the other materials.Predicting the galvanic interaction of a couple or dissimilar metal pairing is much more complex than comparing free corrosion potentials in a given environment. The polarization resistance and area ratio of the dissimilar materials are often more important factors used to determine galvanic interaction.
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