Increased geomagnetic storm levels have led to an rise in the corrosion rate of pipelines, in particular the areas around pipe flanges. The ignorance of this has already led to several dangerous explosions.

There are 160,000 miles of liquid gas pipelines in the world, all potentially affected by global climate change. Aggressive countermeasures are being used to replace corroded pipe fittings in some areas, using high grade nickel and titanium alloys, but this is rare. Most are unwilling to part with the cost unless a leak occurs.

The US is one of the worst offenders. There have been hundreds of accidents in the last 10 years, with many lives lost, owing to unrepaired leaks in pipelines and flanges.  The affect on the environment has been enormous.

Corrosion is most likely to occur at vulnerable areas like the seals of pipe flanges. One modern idea has been to insulate them with low levels of current. Insulated flanges are meant to disrupt current flow along the pipe; however, they create an additional site for electric potential to build up during storms, forcing the current flow into the ground and maximising rate of corrosion.

The danger from geomagnetic storms is corrosion and leakage. Rather than make pipe flanges more vulnerable to damaging electromagnetic currents by ineffective insulation, they should be replaced with flanges made from superior alloys, which are resistant to corrosion and have a guaranteed minimum lifespan.

We at ChemiPetro have a wide range of industrial pipe flanges in a range of highly corrosion resistant alloys.

Gas and oil pipelines are prone to corrosion at points where electric currents flow from the metal into the surrounding earth. To avoid this, an insulating cathodic layer is applied to the pipelines and flanges.

However, this has proven useless during geomagnetic storms. Electrical discharges that occur at these times outstrip the protective potential of the cathodic coating – in fact, they make the problem worse. Geomagnetic storm activity is increasing across the globe. The result is an increase in the corrosion rate of pipelines and flanges.

For example, the central 1/3rd of the 800 mile Alaskan pipeline runs along the plane of the auroral electrojet, a natural current produced in the ionosphere in response to polar storms. To protect the pipeline, a weak counter-current is applied to the pipeline flanges so they have a net, negative potential in relation to the ground.

However, during a storm the electrojet can change polarity suddenly, and become extremely erratic (currents can leap from a few amperes to over 1000) all of which renders the so-called ‘cathodic protection’ useless. The result has been corrosion in the flanges and pipes.

The same story is true across the globe. Despite the extra cost, when it comes to underground pipelines, flanges and fittings it seems the use of high grade alloys, such as super duplex, are no longer a luxury.

We at ChemiPetro sell a wide range of high specification super alloys designed to minimise corrosion in applications like underground pipelines. Our flanges and pipe fittings are supplied at competitive prices meaning protection for minimal extra cost.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers demand a high level of performance from their machinery, and this includes the pipe fittings and flanges. It is essential none of the flanges or fittings pose a chemical, biological, physical or electrical hazard to anyone.

The requirements for biopharm flanges is that they should be air and fluid tight, non-corrosive, pressure resistant, easily removed for cleaning, non-reactive and drain easily with minimal fluid build-up. Since quality control requires their regular replacement, irrespective of wear, they should be cost-effective and easy to remove. This requires specialised locking pipe fittings which won’t loosen unless you want them to.

This ease-of-use aspect is important. Plant technicians are required to regularly overhaul plant systems, taking samples and flushing through pipelines to ensure the total purity of the contents.  The biopharm industry concerns the research, development and manufacture of drugs for human and animal markets – thus quality control standards are high. Various biopharm fittings are inspected by an independent third party official, to ensure plants meet standards and to validate the standards of products.

The solvents and reagents used in biotechnology applications are often aggressive and reactive, requiring a chemically inert fluid path. The pipe flanges must be compatible with the pipes and made from non-reactive, corrosion resistant highly manufactured steel.

We at ChemiPetro supply a whole range of high quality, chemically inert pipe flanges and fittings to the biotech industry. As well as fabricated fittings, we can custom design pipe flanges, elbows and more to your own specifications, and operate a 24-hour call-out service for their replacement.