Why would you install, but never test

Recently, I visited a power plant built around 1970. I was pleased to find out that there was a coating and cathodic protection (CP) system protecting the plant’s gas pipeline. But, I was dismayed to find out that no commissioning report was available, and the plant’s maintenance files lacked any test data to confirm that the system had ever worked properly. That didn’t surprise me as much as it probably does you. At too many power plants built with a pipeline CP system, the system is installed and turned on, but never inspected or tested later.

Tests determined that the system no longer worked- some rectifiers proved inoperable and anodes were depleted. The scary part is we couldn’t tell when it stopped working, or if it ever worked in the first place.

This case is all too common with competitive power plants because CP is not their primary concern. Sadly, I fear that one day, maybe not too far into the future, inadequate safety measures on a power plant gas line will lead to an explosion. Though it’s not part of a plant’s day-to-day operations on the surface, a failure on the gas line could lead to a major disaster resulting in injury, further equipment failures, widespread power outages, and even death.

It is in the public and private sectors’ interest to maintain power plants, so it’s critical to maintain the integrity of a plant’s systems. I would recommend that power plants across the country consult with an established and experienced cathodic protection systems firm.