A method for eliminating hydrocarbon fouling and reducing pumping power during hydrocarbon transportation. A dielectric layer covers the inner surface of a pipeline for transporting a water-hydrocarbon mixture. A proximity electrode is immersed in the water-hydrocarbon mixture, and an electrical voltage is applied across the dielectric layer. A buffer layer of water is formed on the dielectric layer since water is electrically attracted from the water-hydrocarbon mixture. This water layer, located between the dielectric layer and the water-hydrocarbon mixture, eliminates hydrocarbon fouling on the inner surface of the pipeline or any other internal surface that needs fouling protection. Alternatively, the dielectric layer covers an outer surface of the pipeline and is covered by an external conducting layer. Applying a potential difference between the proximity electrode and the external conducting layer still forms a water buffer layer between the inner surface and the water-hydrocarbon mixture, which eliminates hydrocarbon fouling.

A method for eliminating hydrocarbon fouling and reducing pumping power during hydrocarbon transportation. A dielectric layer covers the inner surface of a pipeline for transporting a water-hydrocarbon mixture. A proximity electrode is immersed in the water-hydrocarbon mixture, and an electrical voltage is applied across the dielectric layer. A buffer layer of water is formed on the dielectric layer since water is electrically attracted from the water-hydrocarbon mixture. This water layer, located between the dielectric layer and the water-hydrocarbon mixture, eliminates hydrocarbon fouling on the inner surface of the pipeline or any other internal surface that needs fouling protection. Alternatively, the dielectric layer covers an outer surface of the pipeline and is covered by an external conducting layer. Applying a potential difference between the proximity electrode and the external conducting layer still forms a water buffer layer between the inner surface and the water-hydrocarbon mixture, which eliminates hydrocarbon fouling.

A heat exchanger, includes a heat exchange pipe unit and a fin unit, the heat exchange pipe unit includes a refrigerant input pipe, a heat exchange pipe assembly and a refrigerant output pipe; the refrigerant input pipe is connected to one end of the heat exchange pipe assembly; the refrigerant output pipe is connected to the other end of the heat exchange pipe assembly; the fin unit is fixedly arranged outside of the heat exchange pipe assembly; the heat exchange pipe assembly and the fin unit are made of aluminum alloy; and the corrosion potential of the aluminum alloy which forms at least a part of the heat exchange pipe assembly is greater than the corrosion potential of the aluminum alloy which forms the remaining part of the heat exchange pipe assembly.

In a method for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section in an ionically conductive material such as steel reinforcement in concrete or mortar, an impressed current or sacrificial anode communicates electrical current to the metal section and a storage component of electrical energy which can be a cell, battery or capacitor is provided as a component of the anode. The storage component can have replacement energy introduced by re-charging or replacing the component from an outside supply. Typically the cell or storage capacitor has an outer case which carries an anode material as an integral outer component.

In a method for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section in an ionically conductive material such as steel reinforcement in concrete or mortar, an impressed current or sacrificial anode communicates electrical current to the metal section and a storage component of electrical energy which can be a cell, battery or capacitor is provided as a component of the anode. The storage component can have replacement energy introduced by re-charging or replacing the component from an outside supply. Typically the cell or storage capacitor has an outer case which carries an anode material as an integral outer component.

A gas-fired appliance includes a tank configured to store a fluid to be heated, a powered anode extending into the tank and configured to generate an electric anode current, and a combustion chamber including a burner configured to generate products of combustion. The appliance also includes an exhaust structure, a heat exchanger, and an electronic processor coupled to the powered anode. The products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber to the exhaust structure via the heat exchanger. The electronic processor is configured to determine a duty cycle of the burner, determine whether the duty cycle of the burner exceeds a predetermined threshold, increase a magnitude of a protection parameter of the powered anode from a first value to a second value when the duty cycle of the burner exceeds the predetermined threshold, and control the powered anode according to the second value of the protection parameter.

A gas-fired appliance includes a tank configured to store a fluid to be heated, a powered anode extending into the tank and configured to generate an electric anode current, and a combustion chamber including a burner configured to generate products of combustion. The appliance also includes an exhaust structure, a heat exchanger, and an electronic processor coupled to the powered anode. The products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber to the exhaust structure via the heat exchanger. The electronic processor is configured to determine a duty cycle of the burner, determine whether the duty cycle of the burner exceeds a predetermined threshold, increase a magnitude of a protection parameter of the powered anode from a first value to a second value when the duty cycle of the burner exceeds the predetermined threshold, and control the powered anode according to the second value of the protection parameter.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical mount body (350) comprising a first open mouth at a first end of the cylindrical body (350) and a further open mouth at a remaining end of the cylindrical body, a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and an outer surface that includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel recessed regions that extends circumferentially around the body, wherein the cylindrical body (350) is tapered at each end and at least one securing element is located between the recessed regions.

An array of anode assemblies for insertion at a plurality of locations in a gap between a section of a reinforced concrete structure and another solid structure is provided. Each anode assembly comprises an expandable member, an anode attached to the expandable member for protecting a steel reinforcement in the reinforced concrete structure, and an anode connector for interconnecting the array of anode assemblies. During use, each anode assembly of the array of anode assemblies is inserted into the gap, between the section of the reinforced concrete structure and the solid structure, at the plurality of locations. The expandable member of each anode assembly is configured to expand so as to press the anode into contact with a surface of the reinforced concrete structure.

An object of this invention is to prevent the collapse of structures such as boat lifts, where the collapse is caused by corrosion of metal fasteners inside conductive material such as moist wood in the presence of external voltage differences, and where the corrosion is prevented by blocking current from flowing through the fasteners.