Power plants have experienced severe corrosion, including microbiologically influenced corrosion (MC) in cooling water systems. This attack has resulted in decreased plant availability and significantly increased operations and maintenance costs. Copper base alloys, carbon steels and stainless steels have all been susceptible. In a number of instances, replacement of piping and beat exchangers has been required to alleviate corrosion-related problems. Monitoring is a key element to improved corrosion and fouling control in cooling water systems. On-line methods provide evaluations of corrosion rates in real time and are sensitive to localized corrosion. Electrochemical methods of corrosion measurement are readily automated, both for acquisition of corrosion data and for process control. Electrochemical probes for on-line monitoring of biofilm activity were exposed to a slowly flowing, brackish cooling water environment to assess system performance at Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s Pittsburg Power Plant.
Kevwords: monitoring, microbiologically influenced corrosion, brackish water, electrochemical methods