Cathodic protection continued potential measurement

Interaction tests should be made on all unprotected structures in the vicinity of a proposed cathodic protection installation, and should be repeated annually or at some other suitable interval to ensure that alterations in the layout of plant or in the electrical conditions are taken into account. It is most convenient if the tests on all unprotected pipes or cables are made at the same time, the potential measurements being synchronised with the regular switching on and off of the protection current. It may then be convenient to continue with further tests to confirm that any remedial measures applied to one installation do not adversely affect other installations. 

The potential control in anodic protection installations has two functions. First, the potential must be measured and compared to a desired preset value. Second, a control signal must then be sent to the power supply to force the dc current between the cathode and vessel wall. In early systems, this control function was done in an ON-OFF method because of the high costs of electronic drcuitiy. The recent progress in power electronics has resulted in all systems having a continuous proportional-fype control. Packaging these electronic components occasionally involves special requirements because most of the installations are made in chemical plants. Explosion-proof enclosures are sometimes required, and chemically resistant enclosures are necessary in other installations. 

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