Miniaturised Systems

To date, impressed current corrosion protection has been used almost exclusively for the protection of relatively large structures. However, the need for small, economical systems has increased through the years. In the case of hot water storage tanks, potable waters have become more corrosive in recent years due to increased acidity and aggressive ions. Another example involves the more stringent requirements for reliability in water pumps, valves and other plant equipment which has required the use of more expensive materials. An economic miniaturised impressed current corrosion protection system (Mini-ICCP) can now be used in these applications, as well as in a wide range of others (12).

Recent developments in electronics technology for corrosion engineering, along with the development of platinum clad anodes, have allowed the miniaturisation of ICCP systems (13). These Mini-ICCP systems can now be used in applications where small, controlled currents are required. The miniaturised circuitry has been made possible through the development of sophisticated integrated circuits. The cost of these devices has been reduced so that small controllable power sources can be produced at competitive prices.

Hot Water Storage Tanks

Use of the best available technology has resulted in a hot water storage tank which is constructed of glass-lined, welded steel shell. However, the glass coating is not always free from imperfections, especially in the weld areas. Thus, additional corrosion protection is necessary, normally through the use of magnesium sacrificial anodes (14). In recent years premature failure of the magnesium anodes has led to an increased failure rate of hot water storage tanks. Manufacturers have searched for a universal cathodic protection system that is effective regardless of the corrosivity of the water. This has led to the development of a Mini-ICCP system for hot water storage anks, as well as for a wide range of equipment requiring small protection currents and miniaturised components.

In order to protect the interior surface of a glass-lined steel tank, as shown in Figure 1, the system must be capable of providing uniform protection over the entire surface. Crevices formed by welds at the top and bottom of the shell are the most likely areas for defects in the glass lining, although such holidays may occur in other areas of the tank wall. In electrically heated tanks, the through wall heating elements may also need protection. These factors require that the anode extends over the full length of the tank to provide uniform cathodic protection. In Figure 1, the tank wall (cathode) and the platinum clad niobium anode are connected through a control circuit to the 110 volt or 220 volt AC power source.

The anode must be designed to have a long predictable life in the hot water storage tank environment. Platinum clad niobium has suitable properties for this environment, including high breakdown potential (>120 volts versus the S.C.E.) for the niobium substrate, a uniform platinum cladding, a sound metallurgical bond that prevents platinum spalling, and ease of fabrication (4, 5, 7, 9). The platinum consumption rate is extremely low and predictable in this environment, so that the design of the platinum clad niobium anode is highly reliable (10). The anode consists of a strip of platinum clad niobium, spirally wound on a plastic support tube which extends from the top to the bottom of the tank. The support tube also serves as the water inlet tube.

In order to be universally effective, the Mini-ICCP system must be capable of providing the necessary protection current in corrosive waters while not impressing too much current in less corrosive waters. In addition, an adequate protection current must be maintained regardless of the water resistivity. The key to this is the development of the control circuit, shown in Figure 2, which provides the protection current as a function of water resistivity, see Figure 3.

For a state-of-the art Mini-ICCP system in a commercial hot water storage tank, the curve of protection current versus water resistivity shown in Figure 3 has three regions. The region of low resistivity and high corrosivity requires maximum protection current. The region of intermediate resistivity exists whereby the current decreases with increasing resistivity. The third region of high resistivity and low corrosivity requires minimum protection current. Included in Figure 3 is the curve for a magnesium anode in the commercial hot water tank. Notice that at low resistivities (high corrosivity) the protection current is extremely high, which can lead to rapid corrosion and premature failure of the magnesium anode. At high resistivities, the current is very low which could possibly lead to under protection.

The regulating nature of the control circuit in Figure 2 provides the output which conforms to the curve in Figure 3. The circuit consists of a constant voltage section, a constant current section, and appropriate switching circuitry.

Field Trials and Service Performance

Field trials have been conducted in areas having documented corrosion failures where tanks had failed in less than three years. They included sites with well waters, waters with high concentration of sulphides or chlorides, and acid waters. Impressed current corrosion protection systems conforming to production specifications were installed at each site. Water conditions, protection currents and tank potentials were measured periodically. Table I gives specific data from selected sites on water resistivity, pH, protection current, and tank potential. These potentials are all in the protection region for steel indicating that the proper protection current is being supplied by the Mini-ICCP system.

A typical potential profile for a hot water storage tank is given in Table II to show that the protection is distributed throughout the inside tank wall. The absence of tank failure after 5 years at sites where failure had previously occurred with magnesium anodes after only three years, provides conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of the Mini-ICCP system in the increasingly aggressive hot water storage tank environments now encountered.

Summary

Advances in electronics and materials technologies have led to the development of miniaturised impressed current protection systems. The system described here was developed for the protection of glass-lined steel hot water storage tanks. It consists of a platinum clad niobium anode strip which extends the full length of the tank, and an electronic control unit. The stability of platinum clad niobium has been well documented such that the design of the anode for long life is ensured. The control unit was designed to provide optimum cathodic protection current for the tank in all water conditions. Service performance of the Mini-ICCP system has shown that problems encountered with other protection methods are overcome with this device. The system has applicability in other environments including water pumps, valves, water cooled devices and a wide range of plant equipment where small protection currents and inexpensive miniaturised circuitry is necessary.