Mining shutdowns are part of a regular maintenance schedule or unpredictable as in the case of emergency repairs and mine operators must ensures asset integrity and mitigate start up issues like corrosion.
Corrosion prevention is an important feature of asset preservation. Although protective options like tarps and vacuum-sealed bags are sometimes used, they are more likely to fail at rust prevention compared to materials that contain proactive corrosion inhibitors.
Cortec VpCI® can be effective and easy to use option with a ROI because of low investment cost and labour investment required.
Boilers, cooling systems, compressors, exhaust systems, ball mills, cyclones, centrifuges, and other mining components contain void spaces that are notoriously difficult to protect against corrosion. Applying Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors can be used to fill the entire void space, including areas that are difficult to access. Corrosion inhibiting vapours attracted to and form a protective molecular layer on metal surfaces. Once back in service the vapor phase corrosion inhibitors drift away, without requiring flushing.
Void space protective materials include CorroLogic® -339 Fogging Fluid and VpCI® -308 Pouches for boiler layup, and the Cooling Loop Gator® for general voids, the Boiler Lizard® for cooling water systems.
While Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors can be applied externally through plastic packaging film. Heavy materials such as VpCI®-126 HP UV Shrink Film and MilCorr® Shrink Film provide a barrier to harsh outdoor elements like rain and salt spray. This is a superior option to regular tarps and vacuum-sealed bags as it provides more than a simple physical barrier to the elements.
HMIs and electrical cabinets are other candidates for Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors, and the VpCI® Emitters are the delivery system of choice.
As VpCI®-105 and VpCI®-111 Emitters are self-adhesive cups, they can be placed inside electrical enclosures and provide enough Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors to protect an area of 0.14m³ and 0.31m³, for a couple of years. It is also recommended to install these during plant operation as a regular preventative maintenance plan.
A natural approach to gearbox rust prevention might be to fill the system with hundreds of gallons of oil to protect as many surfaces as possible. But using M535 (or M-531) allows the gearbox to be almost completely empty. The small relative dose of M-535/M-531 present in the gearbox will release Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors that will diffuse throughout the void space, offering more effective protection while eliminating excessive waste of petroleum hydrocarbons.
Keeping assets free of corrosion is a must for mining operators wanting operations to be able to start on a moment’s notice. VpCI® as a prevention and preservation strategy that facilitate a smoother shutdown and a faster startup. To find out more or to contact our team.
Source: Cortec Corporation
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