Optimizing Conditions to Control Copper Corrosion in Stator Cooling Water

摘要

Hollow copper strands in power generators can suffer plugging and flow restrictions caused by copper oxide deposition in the stator cooling system. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the individual effects and interaction for the operating temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) to decrease the Cu corrosion rate. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to investigate the morphology of oxides coupled with a proprietary software to define species formed on the Cu surface. The optimum condition was temperature 40 degrees C, pH 9.0, and DO 0.1 mg/L. At this condition, the corrosion rate could be lower than 0.005 mm/y.