Outdoor-Indoor Atmospheric Corrosion in a Coastal Wind Farm Located in a Tropical Island

Abstract

Abstract. Atmospheric corrosion is important to consider for energy production and transmission. Important and valuable information have been accumulated in this subject; however, the application of new knowledge obtained is not completed. In order to contribute to a decrease in economic losses caused by atmospheric corrosion in wind farms, studies toward application of this knowledge should be carried out. One of the most common reasons for the failure of coastal structures and infrastructures is deterioration failure which is the result of structure deterioration and lack of project maintenance. Atmospheric corrosion was evaluated at outdoor and indoor exposure sites located at different distances from the sea in a wind farm region. Carbon and galvanized steel, copper and aluminum specimens were exposed. Main pollutants and atmospheric parameters were measured. Significant differences between outdoor corrosivity determined by dose response functions established on ISO standard respecting direct weight loss evaluation were found. Estimation carried out using dose response functions overestimate corrosivity (excepting copper). Main factors causing outdoor corrosion are different to indoor. Very high outdoor and indoor corrosivity classifications were determined.

Corrosion of Copper in Unpolluted Chloride-Rich Atmospheres

“…Coverage with basic chlorides starts at the edges of the test specimens and in areas around the fastening clips, where the time of moisture retention is longer and the saline concentration in the precipitated aqueous layer is higher as a result of evaporation during the drying period. This has also been referred to in a recent study [25] and can clearly be observed in the photographs in Figure 6. It should also be noted that side B becomes coated with turquoise blue corrosion products faster as it also receives the marine aerosol but is more protected from the rain, and so the deposited pollutant is less likely to be washed off.…”

“…Scientific literature on the atmospheric corrosion of copper is highly abundant [6,[10][11][12] as is published information on the mechanisms by which copper patinas form in atmospheres polluted with SO 2 and other atmospheric compounds [6,[13][14][15][16][17]. However, data on the corrosion of copper in chloride-rich atmospheres is less abundant [6,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] and only a very small number of studies consider in depth the effect of marine aerosol (sea-chloride deposition) in pure marine atmospheres without SO 2 pollution [26][27][28][29]. The present paper seeks to address this deficit by considering six pure marine atmospheres located at different distances from the seashore in the same coastal area.…”

Atmospheric corrosion study in a harbor located in a tropical island

“…They did not determine corrosivity categories of the atmosphere. The behavior of annual average is similar to Havana City north coast and to a wind farm emplaced in the eastern zone of tropical coastal climate of Cuba …”

“…Corrosivity category determined for most common construction metallic materials and reinforced concrete is very high (C5). higher than 1000 mg m −2 d −1 (dry plate devices) has been reported in the coastal tropical climate of Havana City, without shielding conditions …”

“…Research and evaluation of outdoor atmospheric corrosion in coastal tropical climate in Cuba and Latin America has been performed since the last century. Reports about atmospheric corrosion in Latin American countries have been found in the last years …”