Because crevice corrosion poses a formidable threat to offshore industries, pioneering innovators have begun to consider ways to mitigate this often undetected peril. Tubing installations represent a particularly vulnerable area as they are subject to so many connections. At Production Fastening Systems New Orleans, we’ve addressed the problem of crevice corrosion that plagues pneumatic tubes in harsh offshore environments through our T-SEP or pneumatic tube separation, assembly.
Pneumatic Tube Crevice Corrosion Problems and Solutions
Problem
Pneumatic tube runs need a support system that will keep them secure and separate.
Solution
In 2000, PFSNO developed the T-SEP assembly, which kept tubes separated, elevated, aligned, and fastened.
Problem
Metal-to-metal contact points within a clamping system create an environment conducive to crevice corrosion.
Solution
Since its creation, the T-SEP assembly has evolved to address the issue of crevice corrosion. By employing non-metallic, UV resistant tube spacers composed of durable Delrin 527UV instead of the original stainless steel, grade 316 tube spacers, metal-to-metal contact has been significantly reduced thereby reducing the risk of crevice corrosion.
Problem
Tight crevices trap electrolytes but do not release them. As they stagnate, corrosion occurs.
Solution
The delta-shaped clamping system made from thermorod, a medium viscosity acetal homopolymer, permits increased airflow within tube runs, mitigating stagnation and corrosion.
Problem
Crevice corrosion remains nearly impossible to detect due to the inherently localized environment.
Solution
The delta-shape of the clamping system aids in the visual inspectability of the contact points, allowing engineers to fully inspect the areas where the assembly makes contact with the tubing.
Problem
Installing tube spacers is time-consuming and poses its own challenges for installers.
Solution
PFSNO installed a ballard atop each tine of the tube spacers to aid installers. The tube easily snaps into place and the ballard secures it while the installer prepares the top retainer for fastening.
Attention To Detail and Continuous Innovation in Fastening Systems
At PFSNO, we research each element of a product to ensure that all parts are top quality. We collaborate with all of the key users of a product in order to resolve existing problems. From the engineer to installers, we recognize the insight of each individual on a fabrication team. What are the results of our innovations?
Our state-of-the-art T-SEP assembly has been used on projects from Tahiti to Trinidad, weathering the most corrosive places on Earth. To learn more about the T-SEP assembly and other PFSNO products, contact our experts, who are always on hand to answer questions.
