If you’ve observed rust or damage on your metal equipment, your initial reaction might be that it’s too late to salvage it. In that scenario, you’re correct—it may indeed be too late to intervene. However, if preventive measures had been implemented to shield your metal surfaces from corrosion beforehand, you could have spared yourself the trouble and expenses.
To prevent corrosion damage on active metal surfaces such as tanks, the crucial step is to protect them with appropriate coatings, and cathodic protection provides the solution. Dive into this article to delve deeper into cathodic protection and learn how to effectively implement it.
What is Cathodic Protection?
Cathodic protection is crucial for maintaining water tanks, as it works to protect submerged or buried metal structures in these tanks from the damaging effects of rust and corrosion. This technique is commonly used to safeguard various components within water tanks, including the tanks themselves, piping systems, valves, pumps, and other submerged or buried metal elements.
Despite its effectiveness in preventing corrosion, cathodic protection can represent a substantial financial challenge, especially for large-scale steel assets.
Types of Cathodic Protection
The two primary categories for cathodic protection services are “Galvanic” and “Impressed Current Cathodic Protection.”
Galvanic
Galvanic protection, also known as galvanization, entails applying a protective coating, primarily composed of zinc, onto corrosion-prone metals like steel. In this method, the zinc layer serves as a sacrificial barrier, sacrificing itself to shield the steel beneath from corrosion. However, since the zinc layer gradually diminishes over time, revealing the steel underneath, this approach is not suitable for long-term corrosion prevention strategies.
Impressed Current Cathodic Protection
In an impressed current cathodic protection system, anodes continuously supply electrons, powered by a connected power source. This method utilizes anodes made of more reactive metals to sacrificially donate ions, thereby protecting the susceptible metal from corrosion. Usually, these anodes are composed of alloys with a higher electrochemical potential, such as magnesium, aluminum, or zinc, similar to those found in batteries. This technique is employed to provide extended protection against corrosion.
Why is Cathodic Protection Important?
Cathodic protection is indispensable for water tanks, playing a vital role in preventing corrosion and preserving structural integrity. Water tanks, particularly those utilized for storing potable water, are susceptible to corrosion due to continuous exposure to water and various environmental factors. In the absence of adequate protection, corrosion can compromise the tank’s integrity, resulting in leaks, water contamination, and potentially catastrophic failures.
By implementing cathodic protection, water tanks can effectively mitigate the risk of corrosion on submerged or buried metal components, encompassing the tank itself, piping systems, valves, and other internal elements. This proactive measure not only prolongs the lifespan of the water tank but also ensures the safety and purity of stored water, thereby reducing the necessity for costly repairs or replacements.
Overall, cathodic protection is indispensable for water tanks to uphold their functionality, durability, and dependability, while simultaneously safeguarding public health and environmental well-being.
Prevents Corrosion
Leakage currents originating from electrified railway networks, nearby cathodic protection systems, operational welding equipment, and other direct current sources can present a significant risk to the integrity of industrial water tanks and pipelines.
These leakage currents trigger electrolytic corrosion in subsurface metal structures, potentially causing cracks even before the facility is operational. The soil, with its diverse composition and characteristics, further complicates the corrosion process, making it difficult to anticipate the corrosive effects on embedded metallic components, typically constructed from carbon steel.
Upon detecting corrosion in underground pipes and storage tanks, the installation of a cathodic protection system becomes imperative. Such a system helps mitigate various forms of corrosion, including soil corrosion, galvanic corrosion, leakage current-induced corrosion, or a combination thereof, thereby safeguarding the integrity and longevity of the infrastructure.
Economical
Galvanizing, anodizing, and painting are fundamental methods used for corrosion prevention across diverse industries. These approaches are especially advantageous for small, above-ground pipelines that are readily accessible for maintenance.
However, for high-pressure pipelines transporting oil and gas, additional measures are required to effectively combat corrosion. Maintaining a significant safety margin for plate thickness at high pressures may not be economically viable, potentially resulting in revenue loss, higher maintenance costs, and plant downtime. In such cases, a combination of coating and cathodic protection emerges as the most cost-effective solution to guarantee pipeline integrity and longevity.
Offers Safety and Efficiency
Cathodic protection provides a dependable solution for operational pipelines, guaranteeing their safety and effectiveness even in corrosive soil conditions. Whenever a system is exposed to harsh environments, it is crucial to consider cathodic protection. It’s important to highlight that cathodic protection can theoretically be utilized for buried or submerged pipelines.
In addition to coating, cathodic protection serves as an efficient technique for pipeline protection. In instances where coating thickness fails to meet standards or coating quality could be enhanced, cathodic protection can be applied to specific sections of the pipeline. Furthermore, it can also be employed for bare pipelines to augment their corrosion resistance.
To Conclude
Cathodic protection systems are vital for protecting steel infrastructure, thereby improving asset utilization. Known for its effectiveness in preventing corrosion damage to metal surfaces, cathodic protection is extensively used to safeguard a variety of structures, such as pipelines, tunnels, water treatment plants, offshore production platforms, underwater storage tanks, ship hulls, and others.
Need Tank Refurbishments? Call Tank Inspections Vegas by American Tanks Now!
Once you express interest in Water Tank Cleaning, we’ll organize an on-site inspection to evaluate the condition of your tanks. Our cleaning team from Tank Inspections Vegas by American Tanks will then create a personalized plan for cleaning and addressing any necessary repairs.
Afterward, we’ll offer you a quote for the requested services and arrange a convenient time to begin the cleaning process at your location.
Call Tank Inspections Vegas by American Tanks at +1 800 656 0167
Or email at info@tankinspections.vegas
