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User-Friendly Software that More Accurately Predicts Corrosive Wear on Pipes

Detailed Technology Description

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*Abstract

Invention

This computer program precisely calculates how much protection is needed to prevent extensive corrosion in metal pipes. Around the world, buried pipelines transport natural gas and liquid petroleum products at low cost. Monitoring and maintaining the 2.4 million miles of natural gas pipes in the U.S. alone costs about $7 billion a year. A pipeline accident occurs about every other day in this country, and an explosion or other serious incident that results in hospitalization or death occurs at least once every 10 days. Failure to accurately predict the extent of corrosion in metal pipes can lead to unnecessary interventions that cost thousands of dollars or, worse still, leaks that could cause deadly explosions. In an effort to prevent wasted money and leaks, engineers use several different computer programs and formulas to determine where to apply cathodic protection, which involves placing a sacrificial metal alongside the pipeline and introducing low-level electrical charges at strategic locations. Electricity makes the sacrificial metal deteriorate, releasing electrons that travel to the pipe, which absorbs the electrons, thus preventing corrosion. Although this process works well, available mathematical models provide inaccurate estimates of corrosion, which results in under-protection or over-protection along portions of the line.

Researchers at the University of Florida have designed a more efficient computer program that uses several different criteria to individually assess the needs of each pipeline system. The program will provide more precise calculations of the amount of protection needed, saving lives and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

Application

Computer software that will provide more accurate estimates of corrosive wear in metal-based pipelines for increased safety and lower infrastructure expenditure

Advantages

• Increases precision of pipe corrosion estimation, providing a competitive advantage over available cathodic protection software
• Allows for strategically efficient use of cathodic protection, saving time and money
• Accounts for a greater number of variables, minimizing leaks that cause dangerous explosions
• Compatible with any metal pipeline system, ensuring a large potential market
• Features a user-friendly design, eliminating a barrier to widespread use

Technology

This computer software precisely determines cathodic protection requirements in complex pipeline systems after assessing a wide range of variables that influence corrosion rate. The program accounts for interactions among multiple pipelines, variability in initial coating quality, and interactions owing to independent cathodic protection implementation. It has been tested successfully against available estimation equations and is already being implemented in the design of new pipelines in Asia.

*Principal Investigator

Name: Mark Orazem

Department:

Name: Douglas Riemer

Department:

Country/Region

USA