The Utility Source March 2019 | Page 26

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 •