Cathelco’s largest Anode Order, Box Cooler Systems

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Cathelco, provider of marine pipework anti-fouling systems, are supplying their largest ever quantity of anodes for a vessel which is being built in Spain.

A total of 78 anodes are being supplied for Barreras NB1664, a new type of offshore accommodation ship which is being constructed in Vigo for Edda Accommodation, part of the Ostensjo Group.

The purpose built accommodation vessel with an overall length of 426.5 ft and breadth of 88.5 ft is designed to house up to 600 offshore personnel and can be deployed in oil fields anywhere in the world.

The order for the marine pipework anti-fouling systems was won by Llalco Fluid Technology, Cathelco’s Spanish agent based in Madrid.

“This is the largest order for individual anodes ever received by Cathelco and will rank among the greatest number of systems supplied for an individual vessel over a period of 50 years,” said Justin Salisbury, managing director of Cathelco.

In service, the marine pipework anti-fouling systems will prevent blockages caused by barnacles and mussels on the box coolers of the new vessel.

In Engine Room one a control panel will regulate a system of 18 anodes in box coolers serving the propulsion system. In Engine Room two the number increases to 20 anodes, whilst Engine Room three has a system of 18 anodes. Additional systems are installed in the Thruster Tunnel Room at the bow of the ship and in the aft area as well as box coolers serving fire-fighting equipment.

In operation, the anodes produce copper ions which flow over the cooling tubes and create an environment where the larvae of barnacles and mussels do not settle. The concentrations involved are very small, around 4 parts per billion, but this is enough to prevent marine life from settling and growing.

The copper anodes are mounted in pairs on brackets beneath the cooling tubes of the box coolers. On either side of the anodes is a cathodic plate which helps to distribute the ions when the system is working.

The system eliminates problems caused by bio-fouling where the efficiency of box coolers can be impaired by a layer of marine growth which can interfere with the heat transfer process.

The Cathelco marine pipework anti-fouling system is based on the electrolytic principle with a record of over 20,000 installations on commercial and military vessels.

The box cooler system using totally submerged anodes was developed in 2009 as a unique solution to the problem of fouling within box coolers and is being rapidly adopted by the shipbuilding industry.

(www.cathelco.com)