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Technology:
An electrochemical integrated system for measuring the galvanic current values and direction for two to four electrodes, comprising a corrosion cell and two to four electrodes coupled together via an interface and exposed to electrolyte for allowing electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions to occur on the surface of the electrodes, characterized in that the two to four electrodes are flat metallic specimens made of different metals and alloys, and arranged adjacent and parallel to each other at the bottom of the corrosion cell so that the electrolyte is kept perpendicular on the flat specimens, with a non-corrosive material working as a barrier or isolator among them, wherein the whole combination of specimens is exposed to identical electrolytes under identical conditions allowing monitoring of the galvanic current values and directions at the same time for the whole combination.
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Applications:
- conducting researches on: A- selecting materials for alloying, construction, and Cathodic Protection by sacrificial anode. B- studying the localized Pitting and Crevice corrosion phenomena generated due to the galvanic coupling among metals
- enables the user to predict new galvanic series of metals by introducing new corrosive environments rather than sea water
- enables the user to explore and identify thoroughly the causes of reversal of polarity which occur among metals at certain temperatures and area ratio of Cathode to Anode and cause disastrous situations due to the galvanic action
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Market Potential:
This system has a wide potential of applications in oil refineries, potable water storage tanks and piping networks, chemical and petrochemical plants, drug and food industry, shipping industry, car industry and aerospace industries.
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IP Status:
- US Appl. No. 12/012,819, Filed in Feb. 5 2008, Published in Oct. 23 2008
(Pub. No.: US2008/0257729A1).
- EP Appl. No. 20070101839, Filed in Feb. 6 2007, Published in Aug. 13 2008 (Pub. No.: EP1956357A1).
- JP Appl. No. 20080025219, Filed in Feb. 5 2008, Published in Dec. 18 2008 (Pub. No.:JP2008304448).
- IN Appl. No. 246/DEL/2008A , Filed in Jan.1/2008, Published in Sep.2008
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Proof of Concept:
An integrated measurement system comprising a software package, an Interface Card, a Data Acquisition Card and a Galvanic Corrosion Cell.
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Software Package:
The software is used to conduct coupling through the Interface card and the galvanic corrosion cell among, for example, two, three and four electrodes at a time . This software controls the whole Galvanic Corrosion experiment. It enables the user to select the name of each metallic electrode from the list given below each electrode , as well as the number of electrodes needed to be coupled and up to four electrodes at a time . The user can choose the measurement of coupling potential, Temperature and pH. Also a motor can be operated by selecting the speed and the direction of motion . Then the user can insert the time of the experiment and the sampling time .
The user can set the Galvanic currents readings to appear in either micro amps, milliamps or amps, or he can select "Auto" to let the software choose the unit. The software has the ability to store data (i.e. Galvanic currents, coupling potential, summation of currents, and graphical mapping of Galvanic currents and coupling potential) with time during the experiment, without effecting the continuity of the electrochemical reaction due to the Galvanic Corrosion. The software package will enables the user to monitor the elapsed time and the remaining time in addition to the captured samples and the remaining samples. The user will be also able to pause or quit the experiment at any time.
In addition to the above-mentioned features, the designed software package enables the user to use a cursor to get the value of Galvanic Currents and coupling potential with time at any point on the graph and has the ability to regain previously stored data and saved graphs. A control panel is added to monitor the current magnitude and direction.
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Corrosion Cell:
The Galvanic Corrosion Cell is used to set from two to four adjacent and parallel flat metallic specimens at a time with a non-corrosive material working as a barrier among them. The electrolyte is kept perpendicular on the flat specimens, which are kept at the bottom of the corrosion cell to allow electrochemical reactions (oxidations and reduction) to occur on the surface of the coupled flat specimens. The specimens (i.e., electrodes) are totally submerged in the electrolyte.
The reason of keeping the electrolyte perpendicular to the surface of the specimen is to advantageously benefit from the pressure head .
A motor connected to a mixer is used to simulate an aggressive dynamic electrochemical reaction which will increase the rate of movement of ions and therefore increase the reduction reaction on the metallic surface (i.e., Reduction of Oxygen ions in aerated acidic, neutral or alkaline solutions). The agitation forces imposed by the mixer will also increase the turbulence of the electrolyte and, as a result, increase the rate of the oxygen ions that reaches the surface of the flat metallic specimens, which will increase the oxidation reaction (dissolution rate of the flat metallic specimens).
Four conducting channels made of non-corrosive material and four electrical wires inserted inside these channels are used to connect the flat specimens to the interface. The non metallic cover of the Galvanic Corrosion Cell contains holes that acts as a passage for the shaft that connects the stirring motor to the mixer, the Reference Electrode the Temperature probe, the pH probe and the insertion tubes that introduces inert gases such as Nitrogen or Argon to get rid of oxygen in order to conduct (Activation Controlled) electrochemical reactions.
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Contacts:
Royal Scientific Society
Technology Transfer Center
Eng. Nael Al-Mulki
Manager of the technology transfer center
Email: nael@rss.gov.jo
Phone: 09626 53447041 Ext. 2825
Eng. Khaleel Al-Najjar
Head of the IP office
Email: khaleel.najjar@rss.gov.jo
Phone: 09626 5344704 Ext. 2537
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Responsible Scientist:
Dr. Farqad F.M. Saeed
Mechanical Design and Technology Center
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