Enhanced coatings with high-performance properties based on ceramic formulations for energy installation components

Short summary A Basque SME that designs and produces ceramic materials used in antifouling and corrosion-resistant coatings applicable to metals even in high temperature environments (850ºC) and very aggressive chemicals, has developed a technology that obtains much better results than conventional coatings. The SME is looking for an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or an Industrial coater for a technical cooperation or a manufacturing agreement.

Full description The corrosion and fouling are the main problems for both seawater heat exchanges and in high-temperature environments. The Basque company designs and produces tailor-made ceramic & cermet formulations suitable to be deposited by many different standard application methods onto diverse base materials. As a result of several R&D projects, a new ceramic coating with high thermal resistance and anti-clogging properties has been developed. This ceramic coating has quite good properties in general. One of the most promising properties is the excellent chemical resistance in comparison with vitreous conventional coatings sintered at low temperatures, as well as a high thermal resistance. Fume temperatures in boilers at this point can reach 650ºC (1200º F), steam at 300ºC (572ºF) and a metal surface is estimated to be at almost 500ºC (932ºF). This is very suitable for instance in very abrasive and hot environments (biomass boilers with a high amount of ashes and particles) and for crude oil boilers where the coating has to perform resistance to vanadate attack. Oil fumes in these environments rich in vanadates can also reach temperatures up to 700ºC (1300ºF) and a metal surface is estimated at 550ºC (1000ºF). The partner sought is an OEM dealer that operates as provider for refineries, power generation plants (waste to energy included) or wind off-shore installations, with whom it can establish a technical cooperation or a manufacturing agreement.

Advantages and innovations The technology developed that is being supplied to revamp delayed cocke furnaces, distillation and gasification heat exchangers etc., in US and European Refineries, offers the following improvements in the efficiency of the installations: • Much longer life expentancy for the tubing • Cleaning “shakes” can be reduced if not avoided • Thermal efficiency will remain more constant as ash/coke insulation will not grow • It might become possible to move on to higher performance industrial conditions
Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)