Abriox

MERLIN Transformer Rectifier Monitor

The operation of Transformer Rectifiers (electrical units that place a voltage onto the pipeline to counteract the electrolytic corrosion reaction) is critical to cathodic protection. The voltage must be applied consistently and at the correct level. Pipeline operators are recommended to check the correct functioning of their TRs at monthly intervals. The vast majority of these functional checks are manual, requiring a visit to sites that can be remote and difficult to access.

The MERLIN TR Monitor is housed within the TR cabinet. It monitors the output of the TR (voltage and current), checks that the AC supply is still present, and (optionally) can take ON and OFF potential measurements at the TR drain point. All this data is automatically stored and transmitted in a management report to the system HQ where it is displayed and archived in the MERLIN CPSM software.

MERLIN-TR automatically carries out the functional checks required at Transformer Rectifiers – and delivers a rapid payback on the cost of manual measurements. However, there are many other benefits:

• User-settable alarm thresholds for all monitoring channels - will pick up TR problems such as a blown output fuse

• Alarm generated if AC supply fails – so that protection can quickly be restored to the pipeline

• Channel readings can be requested via software or from a cellphone in the field

• Remote control of TR output from cellphone – including synchronised interruption for CIPS surveys with user-settable cycle time

• No risk assessments or lone worker issues at hazardous sites

• Data automatically archived and presented in regulatory reporting format