Passive and active cathodic protection

Cathodic protection is an electrolytic corrosion prevention technique that is applied to metal components that are in contact with electrically conductive environments.

Essentially, this involves running a direct current between an electrode – the anode – and the surface of the component to be protected – the cathode. The current lowers the electric potential of the metal surface such that it significantly slows down corrosion.

Depending on the technology used, it is possible to implement passive cathodic protection with coatings and inhibitors, or active cathodic protection using sacrificial anodes or impressed current to counteract faults and gaps in the coating caused during installation or by deterioration.

After they are commissioned, these systems must be monitored to assess their effectiveness and to carry out any maintenance, if required. To this end, cathodic protection measuring points are identified on the distribution, transport, and storage networks during the design stage. By acquiring the tube-to-ground potentials of the pipeline to be protected, manual checks can be scheduled on the measuring points. These can be replaced or supplemented by the installation of electronic devices capable of continuously acquiring the potentials and sending them to a data collection centre that automatically analyses the parameters and, where required, fulfils the network remote control obligations by means of alarm signals that allow the anomaly to be identified and quickly resolved.

Cathodic protection applied to metal pipes

Focus

Cathodic protection
When iron and steel come into contact with an electrolyte, such as soil, a phenomenon called electrolytic corrosion occurs in any infrastructure made of metal. Electrolytic corrosion cannot be completely eliminated, but specific measures can be taken in the design and construction phases to significantly reduce its effects.
Regulatory and operational aspects for the cathodic protection

The quality of the cathodic protection service is determined in different ways. There are international standards that require the use of the electric potential between the metal structure and the ground as a criterion for defining its protection.

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Pietro Fiorentini’s experience in cathodic protection

Pietro Fiorentini started developing and creating cathodic protection monitoring systems in 2016. Service2Business is the software able to interface with devices for the monitoring and remote control of cathodic protection systems.

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