GALVANIC & IMPRESSED CURRENT CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEMS

GALVANIC & IMPRESSED CURRENT CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Steel rusts and deteriorates when exposed to the elements. Rusting is an electrochemical process that affects most underground or underwater metallic structures, including oil and gas pipelines. To protect the environment and address the high costs of repair/replacement, it’s important to control corrosion. The most effective method to prevent corrosion is called cathodic protection, which has been used since the early 1800's. M & M Cathodic Protection Services, Inc. has been providing quality cathodic protection services for more than 30 years.

Cathodic protection (CP) is a technology used to control the corrosion of a metallic structure by making it work as the cathode in an electrochemical cell. The two primary types of cathodic protection are:

A galvanic (sometimes referred to as passive or sacrificial) system uses active metals (aluminum, zinc, or magnesium) to generate the protective current. It is best used on well-coated structures of a limited size. A common example would be the anodes on a boat hull.

Applications for cathodic protection include:

• Aboveground storage tanks

• Underground metallic storage tanks
  
• Water storage tanks, both soil side and water-contact surfaces
  
• Underground metallic pipelines
  
• Power plant structures: intake, discharge, circulating water, fuel systems
  
• Marine structures