Cathodic Protection

By Yamit Kumar
Emp. No: 3872

Corrosion

Corrosion is the reaction between the metal and the surrounding environment.
The corrosion rate depends upon the properties of the metal and the corrosivity of
the environment.
Corrosion in aqueous solutions proceeds by an electrochemical process, and anodic
and cathodic electrochemical reactions must occur simultaneously. No net overall
charge builds up on the metal as a result of corrosion since the rate of the anodic
and cathodic reactions are equal.
Anodic reactions involve oxidation of metal to its ions, e.g. for steel the following
reaction occurs.

Fe
(i)

Fe2+ + 2e-

At the cathode, chemical reactions take place using

electrons released at the anode. No corrosion takes place at
the cathode. One common cathodic reaction is:
O2 + 2H2O + 4e > 4OH(ii)

 A summary of the above half reactions can be

expressed as:
2Fe + 2H2O + O2 > 2Fe(OH)2
The term Fe(OH)2 is iron oxide which can be oxidized
to form the red brown Fe(OH)3 commonly referred to
as rust.

 Thus, if we withdraw electrons from the piece of metal the

rate of reaction (i)will increase to attempt to offset our
action and the dissolution of iron will increase, whereas
reaction (ii) will decrease.
Conversely, if we supply additional electrons from an
external source to the piece of metal, reaction (i) will
decrease to give reduced corrosion and reaction (ii) will
increase. The latter case will apply to cathodic protection.
Thus, to prevent corrosion, we have to continue to supply
electrons to the steel from an external source to satisfy the
requirements of the cathodic reaction.

Corrosion protection can be achieved by:

Sacrificial Anode Cathodic Protection System
Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System
Both systems supply electrons to the structure.
The structure will become more negative and
metal dissolution will be prevented.

Sacrificial Anode
When the tendency for metal to go into solution as metal ions
increases (leaving an excess of electrons on the metal surface), i.e.
M > M+ + ethe metal becomes more electronegative.
Thus, since zinc, aluminium and magnesium are more
electronegative than steel they are increasingly able to supply
electrons to the more electropositive steel when in electrical contact
in water, and will effect cathodic protection of the steel surface.
Clearly, if steel was coupled to copper in sea water, steel would
supply electrons to copper which would become cathodically
protected, and the corrosion of the steel would be enhanced.

The following figure is the test

Station used to connect the
Incoming and outgoing cables
Of cathode and anode.
Each area has 2 test stations,
Where in one the anodic
connection is done and in the other
test station, a measuring point is
used to measure the current
flowing.
A current in the order of
milliampere is provided to create a
potential for the electrons to flow.
Reference electrodes eg.Ag-Agno3
is provided to see the pipe to soil
potential and to monitor the rate of
Corrosion.
Standard voltage of reference
electrode
Is maintained at -0.85 to -1.15V

Impressed current(ICCP)
For larger structures, Galvanic anodes cannot economically deliver enough
current to provide complete protection.
In this method, an impressed current is applied in opposite direction to nullify
the corrosion current and convert the corroding metal from anode to cathode.
ICCP systems anode connected to DC power source. Usually this will be a
cathodic protection rectifier, which converts an AC power supply to a DC
output. In the absence of AC supply, alternative power sources may be used
such as solar panels, wind power etc.
This current is given to insoluble anode like Graphite, Stainless steel or scrap
iron buried in soil.
The negative terminal of DC is connected to the pipelines to be protected. The
anode is kept with back-fill(composed of gypsum or coke breeze) to increase
electrical contact with the surrounding soil.

IMPRESSED CURRENT&
ITS INSTALLATION IN
PARADIP BOOT-3

Impressed current method is used for the protection of

the large underground structures like the tank bottom
and bullets.
the anode is MMO anode with small proportions of
titanium and indium. Number of mmo anode rings vary
according to diameter.
Three loops are taken out from MMO anodes and are
connected to the Anode junction box.
When dc potential is applied electron starts to flow from
anode to cathode; the structure to be protected .
HDP sheet is provided such that electrons can flow from
anode to cathode.
CuSO4 electrodes are installed in different locations to
monitor the pipe to soil potential.

60 % of sand in bitumen layer to ensure continuity of electron flow.

Two drain points are provided to complete circuit.
One measuring point is given to measure the current.
If corrosion occurs on tank bottom then at that part the resistance
will be high .
So there will be a voltage drop and the reference electrode at that
part will show drop in potential.
Future monitoring pipelines to monitor the pipe to soil potential
manually.

CPTR BOX:(Cathodic protection transformer

rectifier)
One CPTR for each tank so 36 cptr
for 36 tanks.
230 V AC supply comes to this box.
Rectifier converts this ac supply to
the dc voltage.
DC voltmeter gives the voltage
applied to anode.
DC ammeter gives the amount of
current injected.
Corrosion voltmeter shows the pipe
to soil potential as shown by the
reference electrodes.
Variac is provided to set the voltage
again to desired voltage.
Miniature circuit breaker is given
for the protection of CPTR.

Dc
voltmeter

Corrosion
voltmeter

Dc ammeter

variac

Miniature circuit
breaker

AJB (anode juction box):Receives connection from the CPTR box.

Three terminals for three loops of anode rings.
Shunt resister is provided to limit the current value.

CJB(cathode junction box):Two terminals from two drain point.

One terminal for measuring point.
Connections from the reference electrodes.

THANK YOU