Protective Coating for Steam Generator Corrosion Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for suppressing corrosion in power plants require complex equipment and chemical control systems, leading to increased costs and operational complexity.

Innovation Solution

Applying a protective substance such as TiO2, Y2O3, or La2O3 to the surfaces of structural members in the steam generator and pipes, which acts as a barrier against oxygen diffusion, eliminating the need for deaeration and chemical injection systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional corrosion suppressing methods (deaeration, chemical injection, pH control) are used, then corrosion of structural members is prevented, but equipment costs and operating costs increase due to enlarged equipment and complicated operation control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion preventionVSAvoidequipment and operation control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A protective substance is introduced as an intermediary layer between the structural members and the water environment. This protective substance acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between corrosive elements (oxygen, metal ions) and the structural members, thereby eliminating the need for complex deaeration and chemical injection systems while maintaining effective corrosion suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful elements (oxygen, metal ions) are extracted or removed from the water environment before they can cause corrosion. By eliminating these corrosive components from the system, the patent achieves corrosion prevention without requiring complex control systems for pH adjustment, deaeration, or chemical injection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If deaeration and chemical injection systems are installed for corrosion suppression, then structural member integrity is maintained, but equipment costs and operating costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural member integrityVSAvoidequipment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective substance serves as a protective intermediary coating on structural members, providing a barrier that maintains structural integrity without requiring expensive deaeration and chemical injection equipment. This approach achieves the same protective function at lower equipment cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If strict water chemistry control and chemical concentration control are implemented, then corrosion is suppressed, but operating costs increase due to complex control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion suppressionVSAvoidoperation control simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective substance provides self-service corrosion protection by forming a stable barrier layer that automatically prevents corrosion without requiring external chemical injection or continuous water chemistry monitoring. The system becomes self-regulating, eliminating complex control operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective substance acts as a stable intermediary barrier that eliminates the need for continuous chemical concentration control and water chemistry management, thereby simplifying operation control while maintaining reliable corrosion suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces equipment and operating costs by preventing corrosion in non-deaerated systems, maintaining structural integrity, and allowing the use of non-deaerated water, while maintaining effective corrosion suppression across varying temperatures and water qualities.

Implementation Method 1

a structural member of a system having a steam generator and a turbine is deposited with a protective substance so as to achieve reduction in equipment costs and running costs... acts as a barrier against oxygen diffusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion barrier: Diffusion Barrier

Data Source

PatentEP2600352B1Method for suppressing corrosion of plant, and plant
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP2600352B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2600352B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2600352B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

In a plant including a system which is provided with a steam generator 2, a turbine 3, 5, a condenser 6 and a heater 7 and in which non-deaerated water circulates, and a pipe, the steam generator 2, the heater 7 and 8 of the system which comes into contact with the non-deaerated water is deposited with a protective substance.