Cathodic Protection Applications with sacrificial or galvanic anodes in industry

Authors

Mendieta Villalba, Nadia Mercedes

Terán Alvarado, Ana Fabiola

Hidalgo Crespo, José Armando

Caamaño Gordillo, Luis Daniel

Abstract

Cathodic protection is the method of reducing or eliminating the corrosion of a metal by having its surface function completely as a cathode when immersed or buried in an electrolyte. It consists of making the electrical potential of the metal to be protected more electronegative by applying direct current from an external source or by joining it with a sacrificial material. The research focuses on cathodic protection using sacrificial anodes and reveals the types and characteristics of anodes used in industrial and naval applications, the advantages and disadvantages are also considered. In addition, through the Excel program, a linear regression was obtained in the naval industry area, based on a formula to estimate the weight and quantity of expendable anodes for steel vessels. With data from real random characteristics of 39 Ecuadorian steel barges provided by the Directorate of Maritime and Fluvial Transport, the weight of sacrificial anodes for cathodic protection in seawater was estimated. It should be noted that this information is relevant for the shipowners or ship owners who must periodically change the sacrificial plates during the maintenance of their ships. The owners of these ships always want to reduce maintenance costs during their stay in docks or dry docks.