Page 297 - Challenges in Corrosion Costs Causes Consequences and Control(2015)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 275

4.19 ELECTRIC UTILITIES

The total cost of electricity sold in the United States in 1998 was 3.24 million gigawatt
hours at a cost to consumers of $218.4 billion. The electricity generation plants use
fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, cogeneration, geothermal, solar, and wind energies.
The major players are fossil and nuclear steam supply systems. The two types of
nuclear reactors are boiling water and pressurized water reactors. Some relevant data
on the costs of corrosion estimated in 1998 are as follows: nuclear facilities $1.546
billion; fossil fuel sector $1.214 billion; transmission and distribution $607 million;
hydraulic and other power $66 million. The total cost of corrosion in the electrical
utilities industry in 1998 is estimated at $6.889 billion/year.
Because of the complex and often corrosive environments in which the power
plants operate, corrosion has been a serious problem. Corrosion continues to be a
problem with electrical generators and turbines. Specifically, SCC in steam generators
in PWR plants and boiler tube failures in fossil fuel plants continue to be problems.
If corrosion problems are not addressed in a timely manner, the materials will
corrode to an extent that major repair and rehabilitation will be required with attendant
increased costs.
It is recommended that economic corrosion control programs be developed to
provide a strategic cost-effective approach. The programs should focus on: (i) imple-
mentation of corrosion control in equipment design and use of corrosion-resistant
alloys; (ii) selection of proper on-line corrosion monitoring techniques; (iii) imple-
menting corrosion maintenance programs and (iv) development of educational and
training programs for corrosion control and prevention. In the United States, the Elec-
tric Power Research Institute (EPRI) could be of assistance in this regard.
By providing education and training on corrosion control and prevention to
plant personnel at all levels, it should be possible to control and prevent corrosion.
Table 4.36 is a summary of issues that need attention.

4.20 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecommunications hardware consists of switchboards, electronics, computers, data
transmitters, and receivers. Delicate electronic components must be protected from
human actions and weather for smooth operation over long periods of time. Most
failures of this type of equipment are caused by environmental factors. If left unpro-
tected from moisture, corrosion of delicate small parts results in malfunction. Most
of the telecommunications hardware is placed in buildings and hence are not exposed
to corrosive environments. Telecommunications equipment with a longer design life
such as cables, connectors, and antennas may be placed outside and buried and are
exposed to soils, water, air, and moist weather conditions.
A corrosion issue is possible at telephone facilities that have backup facilities that
use diesel fuel generators supplied by USTs. Leaking UST systems can contaminate
groundwater supplies and can cause fires, explosions, and vapor hazards. The USTs