M. Purcar

Numerical 3-D Simulation of a Cathodic Protection System for a Buried Pipe Segment Surrounded by a Load Relieving U-Shaped Vault

Abstract A three-dimensional, multi-domain boundary element method approach was used to determine the performances of a cathodic protection system applied to a buried pipeline of limited longitudinal dimension, surrounded by a U-shaped vault of infinite resistivity (insulator). A Laplace model describing the potential problem was solved in combination with nonlinear boundary conditions that hold for the polarization behavior of the coated pipeline and coating holidays. The efficiency of this cathodic protection system was examined as a function of the soil conductivity, the position of the defects, and the presence of the U-shaped vault. The objective of these simulations was the quantitative determination of the reducing effect of this structure on the protection level of the outer pipe surface, as a result of its spatial obstruction for the protective currents that originate from the far-field anode beds.

A new approach for shape optimization of resistors with complex geometry

This paper presents a new numerical approach for shape optimization of resistors with complex geometry. The aim of this method is to develop a systematic modification of resistor design in combination with the computation of the electric field, in order to optimize some chosen properties like homogenization of the power dissipation on the resistor surface.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) Based Optimisation of Chromium Plating Processes for Complex Parts

SUMMARY Elsyca Plating Master, a new SolidWorks based simulation tool to compute current density and deposit thickness distributions for electroplating processes, is presented. Complex three-dimensional shaped workpieces in arbitrarily designed plating cells can be modelled. The software enables optimising the cell design (e.g. anode, screen and current thief configuration) and working conditions (e.g. total current, pulse parameters) for a large variety of plating processes. Additionally, it provides the Production Department the analytical data to discuss the manufacturability of a product design with Design und Engineering. The application of Elsyca PlatingMaster for the prediction and optimisation of a chromium deposition process for complex three-dimensional parts is illustrated.

Numerical 3D BEM Simulation Of ACP System For A Buried Tank Influenced ByA Steel Reinforced Concrete Foundation

An advanced three-dimensional Boundary Element Method (BEM) approach is used to quantify the influence and mitigation of a steel reinforced concrete foundation on the cathodic protection (CP) level of a neighbouring buried tank. Due to the fact that the reinforced concrete is connected to the CP system, this concrete structure attracts a substantial fraction of the current that is injected by far field anodes. As a consequence, the tank wall that is facing the foundation, is under protected (tank/soil potential -600 to –700 mV vs. Cu/CuSO4), while the opposite tank wall (facing the far field) is well protected (-1200 mV vs. Cu/CuSO4). These simulations are in agreement with the measurements. Rather than remediate this situation by an expensive trial and error approach, Gasunie preferred to cooperate with ElSyCa and to simulate first the effects of various possible solutions they had in mind. These simulations predict a significant improvement of the tank wall protection level by about 200 mV at the foundation side when insulating screens are placed between the tank and the foundation (depending on size and position of the screens) while the far field side is hardly influenced. As the solver is fully integrated in the SolidWorks CAD environment, any modification of the dimensions of the entire configuration (e.g. the screens), the surface mesh characteristics (determining the computational accuracy), and the physico-chemical input parameters (polarisation characteristics, soil conductivity, etc.) can be established in a fast and easy manner.

A Simple Metal-Semiconductor Substructure Model for the Thermal Induced Fatigue Simulation in Power Integrated Circuits

Thermal Induced Plastic Metal Deformation (TPMD) in a double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (DMOS) power device is highly dependent on the design and material properties of the metallization system corresponding to the technology in which the device is fabricated. To analyse and understand the interactions between the temperature, stress and strain distribution in the metallization system, a simple substructure model is necessary.

3D Cathodic Protection Design Of Ship Hulls

This paper presents a 3D software tool for the design and optimization of cathodic protection systems for submerged structures. It provides the corrosion engineer with a powerful tool for managing operational costs, significantly reducing expensive commissioning surveys and costly repairs, adding major value to the cathodic protection business. The software is entirely CAD integrated such that it can deal with 3D CP-configurations of arbitrary complexity with parameterisation of all geometrical dimensions. The CP model is based on the potential model describing the ohmic drop in the electrolyte (soil, water) with non-linear boundary conditions that model the electrochemical reactions at anodes and cathodes. In this paper, it is explained why the Finite Element Method is used to solve the problem. As an example the protection level of a hypothetical marine vessel using impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems will be investigated. In addition, the underwater electric potential (UEP) of the vessel will be calculated.