In the electric utility pipeline project, water jetting the
pipeline’s exterior was sufficient to clean and prepare
the surface for coating, since only a NACE 3 / SSPC-SP 6 /
WJ-1 commercial blast cleaning is needed.
The CBPC coating was successfully applied to the
exterior of the ‘sweating’ in use natural gas pipeline
outside the facility when atmospheric temperature was
87 °F with 58% humidity.
Such CBPC coatings consist of two non-hazardous
components that do not interact until applied by a
standard industrial plural spray system like those
commonly used to apply polyurethane foam or polyurea
coatings.
While EonCoat is normally spray applied at a thickness
of 20 mils before a topcoat is applied, in this case the
CBPC coating was deliberately applied at 25 mils and no
topcoat was used to deter mold growth on the pipeline’s
exterior. The high pH of the inorganic coating tends to
retard mold growth when used without a topcoat, even
in a hot, humid environment.
Because of the ceramic coating’s multiple layers of
corrosion protection, and the ability to “self heal”
breaches, the power plant is on track to see long term
protection of its pipeline, effectively eliminating the
traditional cycle of blasting and recoating during costly
shutdowns.
The electric utility also met its environmental goals with
this approach. The CBPC coating is inorganic and non-
toxic, so there are no VOCs, no HAPs and no odor. The
coating is also non-flammable. This enhances safety not
only for plant personnel but also for the wildlife of the
nearby freshwater preserve.
With atmospheric corrosion a perennial problem
for owners or operators of any pipeline that carries
compressed gas, whether for natural gas fired power
plants or midstream oil and gas companies, the
utilization of CBPC coatings that can control corrosion
for decades will only help the bottom line and protect
the environment.
For more information, call 754-222-4919; visit www.
eoncoat.com; or write to EonCoat, LLC at 551 Pylon
Drive, Unit D, Raleigh, NC 27606.
www.eoncoat.com •