A influência da ferrobactéria e bactéria redutora de sulfato na corrosão de equipamentos de centrais hidrelétricas – da teoria ao campo

Abstract

The concepts of iron bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria are unknown to most professionals in the generation area of hydroelectric plants, but their corrosive attack is recurrent in dozens of plants. The consequences of this type of corrosion affect the useful life of the equipment, causing failures or maintenance stops with interruption of energy generation. This professional master’s research aims to investigate this type of biocorrosion, its attack on the different types of metals used in hydromechanical components, mitigation methods and chemical control in the cooling water system. To assess corrosion, different metallic specimens were installed in the Serra da Mesa and Cana Brava reservoirs, on the Tocantins River, with periodic measurements of individual mass loss. From this research it was found that the degree of corrosion is directly influenced by the depth of the water and a hypothesis of the influence of the original soil of the reservoir on the proliferation of iron bacteria was elaborated. In conclusion using surface water is the best solution with minimal environmental impact in the control of biocorrosion in hydroelectric power plants.