Demonstration and Validation of Corrosion-Mitigation Technologies for Mechanical Room Utility Piping and Cooling-Tower Pumps

Abstract : Two critical infrastructure corrosion issues at Fort Bragg, NC, are the corrosion of steel utility piping union joints in mechanical rooms and the corrosion of steel pump housings in cooling tower systems. Reliable operation of these components is essential to the Fort Bragg mission. Pump corrosion in particular can lead to system failure, causing disruptions in facility operation and incurring considerable expense for emergency repair labor and parts. This project demonstrated reliable corrosion prevention technologies, including high-performance coatings, materials, insulation, water treatment, and dehumidification as applied to mechanical room pipes and cooling tower housings. The performance of the technologies was monitored, along with the overall corrosivity of the environment, from January December 2008. Then, in mid-2010, coating condition in both the mechanical rooms and on the cooling-tower pumps was inspected and reassessed. This report presents corrosion data spanning approximately 30 months of service and evaluates the performance of each technology in terms of cost effectiveness, system reliability, and safety.