Scotty: the state-of-the-art communication module for cathodic protection.
Scotty provides continuous monitoring of an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system. Once an alarm level is reached the system sends a report to a server where the user can log on. The alarms can also be sent to an email server.
Scotty: the state-of-the-art communication module for cathodic protection.
Scotty provides continuous monitoring of an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system. Once an alarm level is reached the system sends a report to a server where the user can log on. The alarms can also be sent to an email server.
Scotty : a unique communication system due to its translation of ICCP data into valuable information for the end user.
Not only too high or too low protection potentials are indicated but Scotty will also mention the nature of the problem.
The user will know within a span of a few minutes that a problem occurs due to a faulty ground connection, a rectifier transformer defect, a reference cell cut, an anode cut, a cathode cable break, etc ...
The Scotty website also indicates the potentials of the cathode during the past day, month or year in its downloadable log file.
What are the other benefits of the Scotty communication module for the user?
The other benefits are also extremely interesting and diverse.
1. Continuous corrosion protection.
Unlike an annual physical inspection, the problem is communicated immediately. Thus, the corrosion protection can be restored much more quickly, which benefits to the service life of the storage tank(s), pipeline, concrete rebar or other protected steel infrastructure.
On average the repair is executed 180 days faster than with a conventional physical inspection. With Scotty the total recovery time is reduced to a few days or weeks.
2. Detects problems which are not identifiable by third party experts.
Third party inspectors are able to detect problems at cathodic protection systems by measuring the protection potentials. If these potentials are out of range they will urge the owner to ask a cathodic protection specialist to identify the exact problem. The Scotty module is able to identify these problems and the right technician may be sent to the right location to solve the problem.
3. Immediate response to problems.
Another advantage is situated in the area of problem recognition. A lot of problems to cathodic protection systems occur due to other works in the neighbourhood of the ICCP system. The problem may be solved right after the fault is recognized and repair may be started by the technician who is responsible for the fault. This may be an enormous advantage in case of an offshore windfarm or oil rig where technicians can only be sent at high cost.
4. Liability
At distance the manager or help desk will know directly when the malfunction occurred due to the logging function.
It makes it easy to determine which contractor caused the problem. For example if excavations or electrical works are in progress at a fuel station or pipeline when a fault report is generated these works are likely to be the cause of eg. a cable break or a grounding error. In this case the contractor who is responsible for the cathodic protection problem may also be charged for the cathodic protection repair cost.
5. Special advantage for fuel stations : leak detection system is integrated.
Up to 4 storage tank leak detection systems may be connected to the Scotty module. So, there is no need to buy extra leak detection monitors.
Double-wall storage tanks are equipped with a glycol liquid and a liquid level detector which generates an alarm signal in the event of leakage. Other double wall USTs have a leak detection system functioning by a pressure monitoring system. Scotty is able to simultaneously monitor up to four storage tank’s leak detection systems.
It is obvious that the faster a leak is detected and reported, the smaller the environmental problem will be.
The Scotty module replaces the alarms of up to four storage tanks. The physical check of the leak detection system system, during the annual inspection, remains possible at the fuel station itself. The Scotty module is equiped with the standard red, yellow and green lights and a reset button which allows physical testing of the leak detection functions.
Given the increased technicity of a modern fuel station and the environmental issues, verification of the various equipment parameters should be executed more quickly and efficiently in the future. A correct analysis of a failure allows the operator to work more efficiently, have lower operating costs and a longer life span of the storage tanks and last but not least to have a faster remediation in case of an ecological disaster.
In short, a Scotty communication module will become the “must-have” technology of the 21st century ICCP systems.