A Localised Corrosion Cell for Industrial Applications

The LOCORR-CELL™ developed by FORCE TECHNOLOGY is an electrochemical cell for industrial applications estimating localised corrosion. The cell is constructed in a carbon steel casing for direct mounting into the system. It is based on an oxygen concentration element reflecting the interaction between the environment formed under a deposit or in a crevice.

The essential feature of the method is that it reflects the influence of oxygen content, conductivity and temperature as well as the influence of corrosion inhibitors, MIC and other effects that have an effect on localised corrosion under deposits and in crevices. The measuring principle in the cell is based on measurements of the galvanic current flow between the steel anode covered by a porous glass frit and the surrounding steel casing.

The current is measured by a zero-resistance circuit-instrument and the activity can be presented in a display and collected in a data logger. The COCORR-CELL™ has been tested in district heating systems in Denmark and in sulphide-containing geothermal district heating systems in Iceland. The Oxygen content has been varied and also the effect of conductivity and temperature has been tested.

The results show that the cell responds to all the tested factors.