When you’re operating a factory or any facility, it’s important that all of the components of your facility are working properly. If you have a water treatment facility, you should have items, such as functional industrial water flow meters and pristine pipes, to ensure that your treatment plant is of great quality. But even when you’ve done everything you can to make sure that all of the components of your facility are in good condition, there are still some ways it could be destroyed. The problem is that you are probably not prepared for it because you haven’t heard of something like microorganisms laying your pipes to waste.
Microorganisms can destroy your pipes
According to a report, a stainless steel pipe suffered corrosion. Upon the investigation of the maintenance crew, they found that microorganisms were the sole culprit in the pipe’s demise. When they opened up the pipes, they saw that the metal surface was still intact and it had no indications that it was already corroding. When they saw the insides of the pipes, they discovered that most of the corrosion was focused on the welded sections. With the metal surface intact and the welded sections rusting, the experts concluded that only microorganisms were able to cause the pipes to rust.
Bacteria that turns metal to rust
Sulphate-reducing bacteria are capable of causing corrosion in any metal, and this is what industrial maintenance crews should protect their pipes from. According to experts, this type of bacteria could develop corrosion 100 times faster than normal corrosion, which makes them more dangerous.
Sulfate-reducing bacteria thrive in pipes or other similar items because they often look for oxygen-deprived areas and use the sulfate in those areas as a source of energy. When they settle in those areas, they release a toxin that is harmful to metal, which is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Hydrogen sulfide can also develop slime, blacken equipment and even produce an awful smell close to a rotten egg.
Fortunately, there are various ways to prevent corrosion caused by microorganisms. One particular method is to create a coaxial magnetic field in the pipes to prevent microorganisms from developing corrosion. Experts say that current is needed and that it should pass along the metal pipes to create that coaxial magnetic field. But you should consult an expert first before doing this yourself.
Ultraviolet radiation
Another way of removing sulfate-reducing bacteria in your pipes is to introduce ultraviolet radiation to kill the bacteria. Scientists have been exploring various methods to destroy these bacteria. They discovered that using ultraviolet radiation and exposing the water to a wavelength of 254 nanometers for an hour could eliminate the bacteria.
You can also use activated carbon filtration, oxidizing filtration, oxidizing chemical injection, shock chlorination, or water heater modification. Obviously, protecting your pipes from corrosion is important. To ensure that your pipes are in pristine condition, regular checkups are necessary. Even if you notice a small section of your pipes developing rust, you’ll be able to minimize the damage and not let it spread throughout your whole pipe layout.
