Energetica India Magazine - September 2022

surface. Due to its unique metallurgical bond, a galvanized coating is incredibly tough, offering exceptional performance for all kind of abrasion and shocks. An initial outer layer of galvanization provides reliability by acting as a buffer zone, helping to absorb any type of ini - tial shock, impacts, abrasions etc. to the galvanized coating and metal surface. Also, the underlying zinc-iron alloys is harder than steel itself and will further reduce any potential penetration of the coating or the exposure of bare steel. This means that a galvanized coating is highly shock, wear, and tear resistant which particularly suited to areas of high frequency industrial application. A Hot Dipped Galvanization coating can also help prevent damage during con- struction, transport, erection, and the other mechanical activities. This type of protection is not possible in pre-galvanized steel as the galvanized thickness is itself very thin compared to HDG. vi. Hot Dipped Galvanized is fast activ - ity. Once the steel members are fabricat - ed, it simply required just few minutes of immersion time into molten zinc tank post cleaning of the members. The mol - ten zinc reaches to all exposed surfaces and do provide complete protection. However, such all protection in such short time is not possible in case of pre galvanized material, as the punched, drilled, cut surfaces remains unprotect- ed or it need special treatment in special case requirements. vii. Typically, in Pre-Galvanized mate - rial, the claimed 80-micron thickness of galvanization represents 40micron on inner face + 40 micron on outer face of steel; however, in Hot Dipped Galvani - zation 80 microns it is a coating thick - ness on each side. viii. In Renewable Power sector, all the structures which are comprising of thin structural members and cost is worked out on basis of weight of the structural members; in such cases owner or project developer leverage benefit of steel weight from Hot Dipped Galvanized members, this tonnage benefit is not available in pre-gal structures. In Hot Dipped Gal - vanized process, the bond between steel and protective zinc coating is metallur - gical bond. This bond is very strong, in some cases, the strength of this interface layer i.e. zinc + steel is stronger than bare steel, hence it is possible to optimize the base material thickness. However, this advantage of weight re- duction is not possible in pre galvanized or PosMAC like materials. 4. Points to Ponder i. As India is accelerating towards its goal of 300 GW solar capacity by 2030 from 58 GW at present, do we need to change our engineering designs for mak - ing a long-term & sustainable solution or should we continue focusing on the designs developed by Western countries, for totally different environmental con - ditions. ii. Which all components should be in - novated to increase the plant life to 50 years & beyond, 74 energetica INDIA- September_2022 POWER SECTOR