Optimization of the corrosion protection for offshore windfarm monopile foundation - Engineering design lessons learnt

摘要

Protection barriers are implemented to provide corrosion protection for offshore windfarm monopile foundations. Such protection methods have been applied since the beginning of the offshore windfarm industry with regard to the external surfaces and more recently, since 2010's for the internal surfaces. Design life extension combined with an increase of foundations dimensions lead currently to the requirement for high efficiency / high capability protection barriers. Main findings and engineering lessons learned on how to optimize the above protection barriers design are reviewed in this paper, specially: i. Appropriate interpretation of the new revision (2017-2018) of ISO(1) 129441"5 to define the right environment corrosivity category and subsequent painting systems durability. ii. Relevance of design current densities and drained current into sediments for cathodic protection system from codes & standards. iii. Use of cathodic protection modelling to optimize cathodic protection system design; Findings on mitigation of galvanic anodes interferences are presented to illustrate the purpose. iv. Design of a passive water/air renewal system to prevent side effects resulting from cathodic protection system installed in a nearly closed environment like monopile foundation internal areas. v. Environmental impact of galvanic anodes: "Myth or reality"?