Cathodic Protection System

How it Works

Cathodic protection products work by connecting steel to another metal that serves to draw free electrons away from it, essentially corroding in the steel’s place. The advantage of cathodic corrosion protection is that it can be used to protect metals wherever electrochemical corrosion exists.

SMARTCORR®’s range of cathodic protection supplies and systems ensure that valuable oil and gas assets can continue to perform for an extended period of time, protecting the investment companies make in their equipment.

The cathodic protection junction boxes are used to connect the CP system components and to enable access for testing and maintenance. It can be supplied in different sizes and types to comply with a variety of requirements and applications. 

The junction and bounding boxes can include resistors, shunts, and diodes housed in enclosures manufactured from a range of different materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and GRP (Polyester). Enclosures can be IP and NEMA-rated and we can supply ATEX-certified junction boxes suitable for hazardous areas. 

The transformer rectifier unit (TRU) is the most common type of power supply used for impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems. The TRU converts the alternating current (AC) power supply voltage to the required direct current (DC) output. 

SMARTCORR® power supply units (PSU) are available in air-cooled and oil-cooled types housed in enclosures manufactured from a range of different materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and GRP (Polyester). Enclosures can be IP and NEMA-rated and we can supply EX/ATEX-certified PSUs suitable for hazardous areas. 

The CP cable is a stranded single conductor insulated with HMWPE and for additional protection against the corrosive environment (corrosive gases, brackish water, and etc.) a Halar (ECTFE) or Kynar (PVDF) insulation covered by an HMWPE jacket can be used.  

SMARTCORR® HMWPE cables can be supplied in different sizes and additional insulation types (Halar or Kynar) to comply with a variety of requirements or applications and meet the industry standards in the USA. 

The SMARTCORR® cathodic protection system is divided into two types: sacrificial anode cathodic protection and impressed current cathodic protection. The product of the SMARTCORR® cathodic protection system includes an auxiliary anode, test pile, reference electrode, dc power supply, rectifier or potentiostat, insulation equipment, Auxiliary accessories, etc.

Advantages of Sacrificial Anode Cathodic protection include:

• No external power supply is required
• No interference to nearby structures
• Convenient management
• When the amount of work is small, the economy is good
• Protection current can be automatically adjusted
• High utilization rate

Advantages of Impressed Current Cathodic Protection include:

• Output current and voltage are continuously adjustable
• Large protective range
• Large protective range
• Free from soil resistivity
• The larger the project, the more economical
• Long life of the protective device

What Is Cathodic Protection Used For?

These systems are utilized in environments where the risk of corrosion is especially high. Some of the most common types of metallic structures protected using this technology include pipelines, oil platforms, oil well casings, storage tanks and ships.

What Maintenance Needs To Be Done For Cathodic Protection?

The amount of maintenance that is required depends on the specific technology being used. For example, cathodic isolation requires only keeping the components from coming into contact with soil, liquids, and debris. On the other hand, a galvanic anode system needs to have its wires and clamps inspected on a regular basis to ensure they have a strong connection to the metallic component being protected. In general, an impressed current system calls for the highest degree of attention, with monthly inspections to check the rectifier output values.

How Do You Monitor The Effectiveness Of Cathodic Protection?

The cathodic protection potential measurement method is used to determine the efficiency of a cathodic protection system, applied to protect a certain structure. The corrosion protection effect is determined by comparing the measured potential with certain criteria. There is a wide range of cathodic protection inspection and cathodic protection testing equipment typically used to monitor these systems. They generally include sensors, alarms, and other devices used to detect changes in the composition of the metal being protected.