Electrochemical rectifier maintenance primer

Abstract

Electrochemical Power Converters (Rectifiers) are robust, reliable DC power supplies when first installed. They produce tens of Megawatts of power, 24/7 and have a typical design life of more than twenty years. Industry has become accustomed to this reliability and demands in other parts of a plant often divert maintenance resources from these machines vital to plant production. These machines are custom-made and lack of maintenance often results in extensive downtime and costly repairs. This paper provides a review of maintenance procedures and industry best practices. The paper is based on manufacturer's recommendations, twenty-five years of rectifier industry experience and lessons learned within a wide variety of operating electrochemical plants.