Self-Healing Biocidal Wrap for Buried Pipe Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buried metal pipes suffer from corrosive soil environments, particularly due to microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by anaerobic bacteria like sulfate-reducing bacteria, leading to sudden failures and significant economic losses, as current protective methods are inadequate in preventing microbial-induced corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A viscoelastic, self-healing wrapping material is developed, combining a thermoplastic blend, filler, and biocide effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including sulfate-reducing bacteria, which is applied as a tape or wrap to metal and concrete structures to create a protective barrier that prevents corrosion by inhibiting bacterial growth and providing impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protective coatings are applied to buried pipes, then physical protection is provided, but microbiologically influenced corrosion caused by anaerobic bacteria still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A biocidal wrapping material is introduced as an intermediary layer between the soil environment and the pipe surface. This material contains biocides that actively inhibit anaerobic bacteria, preventing them from attacking the pipe coating and causing microbiologically influenced corrosion. The wrapping material serves as a mediator that blocks the harmful interaction between bacteria and the protective coating.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective system uses a composite wrapping material that combines multiple functional components: biocides for microbial inhibition, elastomeric polymers for flexibility and adhesion, and protective coatings for physical barrier properties. This composite structure provides both chemical protection against bacteria and physical protection against environmental factors.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If pipelines are designed for long service life (50-100 years), then durability is improved, but actual service life is shortened by corrosion failures
Solution Approach 1:
The biocidal wrapping material is applied to pipelines before burial, establishing protective action in advance. The biocides are pre-positioned on the pipe surface to inhibit bacterial growth before anaerobic bacteria can colonize and cause microbiologically influenced corrosion, thereby preventing premature failure and achieving the designed service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The wrapping material provides beforehand cushioning by creating a protective barrier that cushions the pipe coating against bacterial attack. This pre-established protection prevents the initiation of corrosion processes that would otherwise lead to sudden pipeline failures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protective wrapping material is applied to pipes, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the material must effectively inhibit both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The biocidal wrapping material is designed with multi-functionality to address diverse microbial threats. It contains biocides that are effective against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, including sulfate-reducing bacteria, thereby providing universal protection against various types of microbiologically influenced corrosion that pipes may encounter in different soil environments.
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
The solution effectively reduces microbial load by 3 logs, providing long-term corrosion protection to buried infrastructure, including pipelines, flanges, and valves, by creating a physical and chemical barrier against anaerobic bacteria, thereby extending the service life and preventing sudden pipe failures.
Implementation Method 1
at least one biocide formulated to be effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
Implementation Method 2
viscoelastic, self-healing wrapping material
Implementation Method 3
combining a thermoplastic blend, at least one filler, at least one paraffinic oil
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for protecting metal and concrete structures from bacteria-induced corrosion, wherein the method includes creating a viscoelastic, self-healing wrapping material configured to encapsulate a metal structure or a concrete structure by combining a thermoplastic blend, at least one filler, at least one paraffinic oil, and at least one biocide formulated to be effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, wherein the anaerobic bacteria includes sulfate-reducing bacteria; wrapping an exterior surface of a metal structure or a concrete structure with the viscoelastic, self-healing wrapping material; and placing the wrapped metal structure or concrete structure in an operational environment, wherein the viscoelastic, self-healing wrapping material is operative to prevent or greatly reduce corrosion of the metal structure or concrete structure caused by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria occurring or located in the operational environment.