Periodic Maintenance; Figure 16. Barnacle Damage To A Urethane Face - Teledyne WORKHORSE Operation Manual

WorkHorse H-ADCP Operation Manual

Periodic Maintenance

The Maintenance section explains routine maintenance procedures. You rarely need access to the elec-
tronics inside the transducer head. However, one external maintenance item is important enough to men-
tion here as it may affect how you install the transducer.
Objects deployed within about 100 meters (328 feet) of the surface are subject to the buildup of organic
sea life (biofouling). Soft-bodied organisms usually cause no problems, but hard barnacle shells can cut
through the urethane transducer face causing transducer failure and leakage into the H-ADCP (see Figure
16).
The best-known way to control biofouling is cleaning the H-ADCP transducer faces often. However, in
many cases this is not possible.
• Some of our users have had success applying a thin coat (≈4 mm; ≈0.16 in.) of either a 50:50 mix
of chili powder and Vaseline or chili powder and silicone grease to the transducer faces. The chili
powder should be the hottest that can be found. Water flowing across the transducers will wash
this mix away over time. The silicone mixture tends to last longer.
•
Some organizations may decide to use antifouling grease. However, most antifouling greases are
toxic and may cause problems. Recent tests suggest antifouling grease may cause the urethane on
the transducer faces to develop cracks. Warmer temperatures accelerate this effect. The other
method is to use antifoulant paint (see Antifouling Paints).
Your H-ADCP transducer housing and mounting plate is made of aluminum that is protected by
sacrificial anodes
Other metals may cause corrosion damage (see
Corrosion).
Use isolating bushings when mounting the H-ADCP to a metal structure. Keep this in mind
when fabricating a fixture, which materials to use, or deciding how to place it at the installation
site.
Sacrificial anodes are fitted to the H-ADCP to prevent corrosion (see
Replacement). Standard anode protection will typically protect the parts that may corrode.
However, you should plan regular inspections of the mounting hardware for signs of
corrosion.
Figure 16. Barnacle Damage to a Urethane Face
and a hard anodize coat and
TRDI disposes many corroded hardware sets during inspections.
EAR-Controlled Technology Subject to Restrictions Contained on the Cover Page.
paint. Do not connect other metal to the
Cathodic Disbondment and Galvanic
Zinc Anode Inspection and
May 2015
H-ADCP.
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