STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION AND CORROSION PROTECTION OF A BADLY DETERIORATED CARBON STEEL CLARIFIER TANK WITH WARREN EPOXY.

MISSION CRITICAL PROJECT No. 6:

Clarifiers are settling tanks built with mechanical means for continuous removal of solids being deposited by sedimentation. A clarifier is generally used to remove solid particulates or suspended solids from liquid for clarification and (or) thickening.

An extremely rusted water clarifier owned by the town of Bethlehem, New York, USA, was rehabilitated without metal replacement using Warren Epoxy coating, saving the town a considerable amount of money as stated by the chief water treatment plant operator. The tank was built in the mid 1970’s. The tank was 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter and 14 feet (4.2 meters) in height.

The town of Bethlehem considered three rehabilitation options. One strategy was to require the total replacement of the clarifier with a stainless structure. Another option was to involve painting the clarifier with a conventional coating but would require extensive steel replacement and the installation of a new cathodic system. The third option consisted of using Warren Epoxy coating to rehabilitate the structural integrity of the steel and provide corrosion protection. The town chose the third option because it did not require steel replacement and the installation of a cathodic protection system.

The Bethlehem Clarifier Tank was successfully rehabilitated with Warren Epoxy on November 3rd, 2001.

As of December 29th, 2017, and according to the chief water treatment plant operator, the coating job is still in excellent condition after 16 years of outstanding operational service !! .. And the expected useful life is over 50 years !!