The UK’s energy industry plays a significant role in our country. Aside from the obvious benefits it provides in terms of heating and lighting of our homes, as well as powering our plethora of electrical devices, it makes a massive contribution to the economy. The British power generation sector creates over £85 billion per year and employs more than 1 in 50 people in the country. The various forms of power creation require reliable, precision components, designed to last in harsh operating conditions.
Electroplating in the power generation sector
Whether we’re talking about traditional power stations that make use of fossil fuels, nuclear power plants, or more renewable forms of power generation, their various components undergo a great deal of strain. Turbines produce enormous amounts of friction, heat, and abrasion and yet their components must be built to last. This requires durable and reliable plating techniques that ensure long-lasting and safe components.
Why is electroplating so essential to the power generation industry? Here are some of the key reasons:
Corrosion and wear resistance
A component breaking in any piece of equipment is bad news, but in a power generation setting, it can be disastrous. Since most power plants generate energy by means of steam-powered turbines, components are prone to both wear-and-tear caused by constant abrasion, as well as corrosion due to the humid environment. At Karas Plating, we offer a number of plating solutions that can rectify both these problems, including nickel-plating.
Friction reduction
Whether it’s a nuclear power plant or a wind turbine, spinning parts play a role in many power generation plants. Heat from friction is an unavoidable by-product of this process, which is why many energy companies look for ways to reduce it. Not only does it extend the life of the components, it allows the turbines to move faster, making the plant more efficient. At Karas Plating, we can employ several plating techniques that minimise both friction and heat in your most important component parts.
High volume power generation and supply solutions
Here at Karas Plating, we are no strangers to the demands of high-volume power generation. For more than thirty years, we have provided high-build silver plating for various contact components used in the National Grid. This plating solution improves both friction and wear resistance on many essential moving, sliding and switchgear parts.
Increased conductivity
The purpose of any power generation company is to produce safe and affordable electricity. In order to benefit from this, you need components that are highly conductive, whilst also being heat and power resistant. There are several metals that we can consider for this, including copper, gold, and silver. We understand that every client’s requirements are unique to their circumstances and we have the tools and the experience to deliver the solution you need.
Other sectors we cover
If components used in the power generation industry are under stress, it is nothing compared to the oil and gas sector. From North Sea oil rigs, to natural gas extraction centres, through to the pipeline infrastructure that gets it to hundreds of sites across the country for processing, the industry needs plated materials that can survive in the harshest of environments.
The British defence industry utilises many of the electroplating processes that we have perfected here at Karas Plating. Precision plating is required to create reliable defence products. Likewise, they must be resistant to heat, corrosion, and other environmental considerations, since they might be deployed anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.
The petrochemical industry produces essential items that we use everyday, from plastics, petroleum, and detergents to lubricants, asphalt, propane, and more. Raw materials are subjected to extreme heat and pressure throughout the refining process, so the machinery used to do so requires durable and reliable plating to get the job done.