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System and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor

a compressor and corrosion technology, applied in the field of system and method for can solve the problems of affecting the performance of the compressor, etc., and achieve the effect of reducing corrosion and reducing corrosion in the compressor

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-07-26
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a system and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor. The system includes a sensor that detects the corrosion potential of the compressor blade and generates a signal. A power supply produces an electrical potential at the blade. An electrolyte coats at least a portion of the sensor and the electrical connection. The method involves sensing the corrosion potential of the blade, generating an electrical potential, and flowing an electrolyte over the blade and the electrical connection. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a system and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor, which can help to prolong the life of the compressor and reduce maintenance costs."

Problems solved by technology

The build up of pollution and contaminants on the blade surfaces results in an environment conducive to increased levels of general, crevice, and / or pitting corrosion on the compressor blades.
Eventually, the corrosion potential (Ecorr) reaches the pitting breakdown potential (Eb), at which point the current density (I) increases dramatically, resulting in pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, and / or other forms of localized corrosion on the surface of the steel alloy.
However, the structure and environment of a compressor generally lacks a similar conductive path suitable for anodic and cathodic protection systems.
Specifically, the ambient air flowing across the rotating and fixed blades does not produce sufficient electrical conductivity to support an anodic or cathodic protection system.

Method used

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  • System and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor
  • System and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor
  • System and method for reducing corrosion in a compressor

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second embodiment

[0024]FIG. 3 provides a simplified diagram of a system 40 according to the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the system 40 provides cathodic protection against corrosion and generally includes the compressor blades 16 and electrolyte 18 as previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In addition, this embodiment includes a sacrificial anode 42 connected to the compressor blades 16, and the electrolyte 18 coats or covers at least a portion of the sacrificial anode 42 and compressor blades 16.

[0025]The sacrificial anode 42 may comprise any suitable material known in the art that has a higher oxidation potential or more negative electrochemical potential than the steel alloy used in the compressor blades 16. For example, the sacrificial anode 42 may comprise a plate, rod, or fin made from aluminum, zinc, or another element in the galvanic series above martensitic steel. As the electrolyte 18 coats at least a portion of the compressor blades 16 an...

third embodiment

[0026]FIG. 4 provides a simplified diagram of a system 50 according to the present invention that incorporates or combines aspects of the previous embodiments shown and described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 to provide impressed current cathodic protection against corrosion. Specifically, the system 50 includes a sensor 12 and a power supply 14 connected to one or more compressor blades 16 as previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the system includes a sacrificial anode 42 as previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Notably, the power supply 14 may connect to the compressor blade 16 at an electrical connection 34 on the sacrificial anode 42 and also to a counter electrode 36 in the electrolyte 18 to complete the electrical circuit. As a result, the electrical potential or impressed current provided by the power supply 14 increases the difference in the electrochemical potential between the sacrificial anode 42 a...

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Abstract

A system for reducing corrosion in a compressor includes a compressor blade having a corrosion potential. A sensor connected to the compressor blade generates a signal reflective of the corrosion potential. A power supply connected to the compressor blade at an electrical connection produces an electrical potential at the electrical connection. An electrolyte coats at least a portion of the sensor and the electrical connection. A method for reducing corrosion in a compressor includes sensing a corrosion potential of a compressor blade and generating a signal reflective of the corrosion potential. The method further includes generating an electrical potential at an electrical connection on the compressor blade and flowing an electrolyte over at least a portion of the compressor blade and the electrical connection.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally involves a system and method for reducing and / or preventing corrosion in a compressor. Particular embodiments of the present invention may employ anodic protection, cathodic protection, and / or impressed current techniques to reduce and / or prevent general corrosion of compressor blades.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A typical compressor includes multiple stages of rotating and fixed blades made from various steel alloys. Ambient air flows into the compressor, and the rotating blades progressively impart kinetic energy to the ambient air to produce a compressed working fluid at a highly energized state. The ambient air often includes various amounts of moisture, salts, acids, and other pollution and contaminants that may deposit or precipitate onto the rotating and fixed blades. The build up of pollution and contaminants on the blade surfaces results in an environment conducive to increased levels of general, crevice, and / o...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F04D27/02F04D29/38F04D29/00
CPCF04D29/023F04D29/324C23F13/22C23F13/06C23F13/04F05D2260/95
Inventor MOORS, THOMAS MICHAELHEFNER, REBECCA EVELYNCHEN, JIANGIANG
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO