Abstract
For all forms of transport of fluids in pipes, there is loss of pressure due to the friction. It has been shown that an electrical potential applied to the pipe wall can reduce water flow friction. Piezometric pressure loss over the 13.1 m slanting epoxy coated pipe made of steel, through which water was flowing, decreased when pipe was exposed to positive DC-potentials in the range 0.6–1.6 V. Maximum reduction was 2% with an applied potential of 1.0 V. Results from full scale experiments in a hydroelectric power plant (12.5 MW, 85 GWh) show that head loss decreased from 45.9 m to 39.8 m at maximum flow rate after 2.5 years of exposure to 1.1 V. Similar results for the head loss in another power plant (28 MW, 116 GWh) were 17.5 and 17.2 m, respectively, after 9 months of exposure to this DC-potential. The positive polarization of the pipes was noticeable throughout the whole length of the pipe.
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Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 649–656.
The text was submitted by the authors in English.
The paper was prepared for special issue devoted to V.G. Levich 90th anniversary.
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Waskaas, M., Daujotis, V., Wolden, K.E. et al. Reduction in pressure drop for pipe flow due to applied electric potentials to the pipe. Russ J Electrochem 44, 602–609 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193508050157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1023193508050157