Impressed Current Cathodic Protection for External Protection

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection – It is important to protect structures and systems from aerial conditions or environments. Massive external corrosion due to environmental conditions can cause severe damage to the structures.

This is commonly happening in marine vessels, ships, or onshore pipelines. Where the damage can lead to safety problems or expensive repair costs.

Fortunately, an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection or ICCP is believed as the best alternative to avoid the phenomenon of this external corrosion.

However, it is important to get an overview of this protection system. Starts from the understanding of the ICCP, component of the ICCP system, up to the working method and the advantages. To give this information, the following are some brief descriptions about Impressed Current Cathodic Protection.

What Is Impressed Current

An impressed current is a type of cathodic protection that uses an electrochemical to avoid the possibility of external corrosion.

The method works by decreasing the potential energy difference between the cathodic and anodic metal surface when located into an electrolyte such as soil, concrete, or water.

By having this impressed current, whenever an open circuit potential of cathodic areas is polarized in the same circuit potential of its anodic sites, then the system will effectively be protecting.

The most important thing in the system is that it works to turn the structure cathodic into a current receiver rather than the current provider.

What Is Cathodic Protection

Cathodic protection is a method of electrochemical protection that helps protect components or structures with metal surfaces from the potential of corrosion.

Usually, this system is provided as the secondary control of the corrosion and works in conjunction with an external anti-corrosion coating.

The principle system of the cathodic protection is to work by decreasing the corrosion potential to a level at which the corrosion rate of the metal can significantly reduce.

Therefore, it is also mentioned as a technique to reduce the corrosion of metal surfaces by making the surface the cathode of an electrochemical cell.

By this process of suppressing the corrosion potential into a more negative potential, then the external corrosion of structures can be avoided.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Components

One of the common cathodic protection systems that is widely used to avoid external corrosion is by using impressed current.

Align with the explanation above, when protecting a system or structure using the Impressed Current Cathodic Protection method, there are several components to include in the systems.

In general, to protect a metallic structure, the major components of this system are a rectifier, wire cables, and anodes. Following the main methods of the system to work properly, an ICCP shall be consisting of an anode attached to the power source.

Therefore, the anode is a major component that shall be provided. The anodes can be designed in various shapes with common materials made of platinum, silicone, cast iron, and graphite.

The next component to provide is a power source which will provide the necessary current to result in the electrochemical reaction. Therefore, providing a sufficient power source is necessary. Usually, this power will be provided in a form of a power supply unit.

The Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system shall also require a wire to connect between the anode and the power source. This wire is mostly made of steel wire or also can be made of copper.

Advantages of Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Method

It is believed that selecting an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system to protect a structure can have good advantages. That is why this method is preferable among other methods. Selecting this protection system will give the following benefits.

Longer Life Anode Material

The material of anode that use to protect the metal surface is normally can have long years of life. Most of the anode design for more than 10 years in the market.

Some even work for 20 to 30 years. Therefore, it is a durable material to use for avoiding external corrosion on the metal surface.

Ease of Installation

Selecting this impressed current method for the cathodic protection system can provide an easier installation approach. It also takes less installation duration. Therefore, it can be more cost-effective and simple.

Ease of Maintenance System

Another advantage of selecting this system is to provide an easy maintenance system. Due to the component of ICCP that simple and standard, there is no specific or special treatment to maintain the system along with its design life.

Ease of Monitoring and Control

ICCP system is also an easy system to monitor and control. Usually, during the installation of the system, a test meter is installed together to provide information on the anode potential in the future. Even most of the systems are left to operate without control.

Provides Higher Current System

Selecting the method can provide a higher current system to protect the metal surface. Therefore, it is the best solution to make sure that it will provide sufficient protection against external corrosion combined with the anti-corrosion coating.

Provides Long Protection Duration

With a high current system, it provides higher potential and leads to long protection duration. Therefore, it will not require any replacement during its design life.

About Cathpro Indonesia

Cathpro Indonesia is a company that commits to serving on providing various ranges of cathodic protection systems for any purpose.

The company is also an expert for the Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system and has been trusted for years providing service for this system on various operators.

To deal with the works, the company always commits to providing the best service and quality. It also provides an effort to always meet client satisfaction and align with the quality standards as per regulations. Not to mention a strong technical knowledge from our employees that handling the works.

Based on the company expertise above, it can make sure that Cathpro Indonesia is the best solution for your Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system.

Either for the needs of protecting onshore pipelines, marine vessels, ships, and many more. Therefore, don’t hesitate to contact us and get our best quotation by contact us or dial 081-1210-6565.