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Corrosion
MEA
2015
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH AC
VOLTAGES ON PIPELINES?
AC concerns
Induced AC
Faults
Lightning
Capacitive coupling
Safety
Code
Induced AC Corrosion
Induced AC Mitigation
Note:
* Phases
* Shield wires
I1
I2
Faults
A fault occurs when a path from phase to ground is introduced such
that the full current available in the circuit flows to ground.
This is a particular concern for lines on steel towers should the fault
occur between a phase and the tower
High voltage transmission lines typically do not have a neutral to carry
full fault current
Lightning
Lighting can strike a phase or shield wire and be introduced into the
ground through a tower or ground rod
(1)
Workers can still accidentally contact the pipeline, even after its in the
trench.
Cathodic protection tests leads can give a shock. The same applies for
other aboveground appurtenances such as valves, casing vents, fences,
etc.
When cutting pipe, a worker doesnt feel the current, so he believes he is
safe. As soon as he separates the pipe the current may run through his
body. He could be shocked and seriously injured.
Adequate bonding across the point to be cut will eliminate the hazard, bond
before starting the cut.
Working aboveground pipes that are not electrically continuous, such as
isolated flanges, joints, unions, or couplings. Putting his hands across the
isolator could a workers body a path for any current present on the pipeline
Resistive coupling between the power line and pipeline occurs when
the power line transmits an electrical charge directly into the earth at
grounded structures.
This is short duration occurrence that is not typical of proper system
operation, but it may occur during lightning strikes and electrical
transmission fault scenarios.
When this charge is transmitted into the soil near a pipeline, the pipeline
can provide a lower resistance path.
The current pickup and return locations for this charge can result in
coating damage and rapid metal loss.
The amount of AC that is induced onto the pipeline is influenced by several factors.
The information listed in Table 1 is not meant to be all inclusive of the
influencing factors, and is only presented as a general representation of system influence.
The size of the coating defect is critical. While large coating defects
are of concern related to the application of cathodic protection and
remediation of typical galvanic corrosion, the opposite is of concern
related to AC corrosion. Large defects can behave more as a
grounding effect. Small defects, generally estimated to be 1 cm2,
are the greatest risk as the AC discharge density is focused and
more likely to cause accelerated corrosion. This is especially true in
lower resistivity soils.