Solution for exploding piles
Germany-based Noske-Kaeser, a provider of systems for air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, piping, fire fighting and CBRN protection, has developed a new ventilation system to protect offshore wind turbine foundations from explosive gas mixtures. Several systems are currently in successful long-term tests with a renowned wind turbine operator.
Offshore piles are facing corrosion in saline sea water and need to be protected. Therefore special coatings based on galvanic anodes or external current (cathodic corrosion protection enriches the metal with additional electrons to prevent corrosion) are commonly used.
“By using cathodic corrosion protection systems up to 600 litres of hydrogen per day can arise in the lower, gas-proof areas of the foundation”, said Udo Habermann, responsible Senior Sales Manager at Noske-Kaeser. “Since the foundations experience no natural ventilation, an explosive mixture of gases can arise in the long term, which endangers not only the wind turbine itself but also the service crew working in the piles.” So far, there exists no other explosion prevention solution.
“To avoid the formation of such a dangerous accumulation of gases and for the simultaneous protection of man and material, we have developed an innovative ventilation system, which is intended particularly for retrofitting existing wind turbines”, Habermann explains.
The low-maintenance ventilation system can easily be installed with an adhesive technology without any welding work. It consists of energy-saving synthetic materials that are protected from strong wave actions. The technology is flexibly adaptable for all pile types such as monopiles or tripods.
By Jake Frith
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