Corrosion protection system for non-immersed equipment

Abstract

An ionic transport material is disposed relative to a substrate and configured to establish an ionic connection between the substrate and a replaceable sacrificial anode. The replaceable sacrificial anode is electrically connected to the substrate and is provided to inhibit corrosion of the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of inhibiting corrosion of a substrate, the method comprising:
 coupling an ionic transport material to the substrate; and   establishing an electrical connection between the substrate and a replaceable sacrificial anode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein coupling the ionic transport material to the substrate includes adhering a continuous layer of the ionic transport material to the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein coupling the ionic transport material to the substrate includes applying the ionic transport material as a top-coat layer to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including establishing the electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode by placing the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate in direct physical contact. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including establishing the electrical connection by providing an electrical link between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode using an electrical wire. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including coupling the replaceable sacrificial anode to the ionic transport material and establishing the electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode using an electrical conductor included in the ionic transport material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further including a multi-layer ionic transport material, each layer of the ionic transport material having an electrical conductivity independent of other layers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further including mechanically supporting the replaceable sacrificial anode using the ionic transport material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further including monitoring depletion of the replaceable sacrificial anode and in an event the depletion exceeds a predetermined threshold, issuing an indication requesting replacement of the replaceable sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the replaceable sacrificial anode includes at least one element less noble than the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ionic transport material includes a nanoporous solid, the nanoporous solids supporting ionic transfer between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         12 . A system for inhibiting corrosion of a substrate, the system comprising:
 a replaceable sacrificial anode disposed relative to the substrate; and   an ionic transport material coupled to the substrate, the ionic transport material being inserted between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the ionic transport material is coupled to the substrate by adhering a continuous layer of the ionic transport material to the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the ionic transport material is coupled to the substrate by applying the ionic transport material as a top-coat layer to the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode is established by placing the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate in direct physical contact. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode is established using an electrical wire. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the ionic transport is arranged to mechanically support the replaceable sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode is established using an electrical conductor included in the ionic transport material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the ionic transport material includes multiple layers, each layer of the ionic transport material arranged to have an electrical conductivity independent of other layers. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  further including a monitor arranged to monitor depletion of the replaceable sacrificial anode and in an event the depletion exceeds a predetermined threshold, issue an indication requesting replacement of the replaceable sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replaceable sacrificial anode includes at least one element less noble than the substrate. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the ionic transport material includes a nanoporous solid that supports ionic transfer between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode. 
     
     
         23 . A method of inhibiting corrosion of a substrate, the method comprising:
 establishing an electrical connection between the substrate and a replaceable sacrificial anode; and   coupling an ionic transport material to the substrate, the ionic transport material establishing an ionic connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further including establishing the electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode by at least one of placing the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate in direct physical contact, connecting the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate in using an electrical wire, or using an electrical conductor included in the ionic transport material. 
     
     
         25 . A system for inhibiting corrosion of a substrate, the system comprising:
 a replaceable sacrificial anode being electrically connected to the substrate; and   an ionic transport material disposed relative to the substrate and configured to establish an ionic connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein electrical wherein electrical connection between the substrate and the replaceable sacrificial anode is established through at least one of direct physical contact between the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate, an electrical wire configured to connect the replaceable sacrificial anode and the substrate, or an electrical conductor included in the ionic transport material.