Coke backfill

Fig. 7-1 Material consumption from impressed current anodes. graphite anode without coke backfill, O graphite anode with coke backfill, FeSi anode without coke backfill, A FeSi anode with coke backfill.

Table 7-2 Composition and properties of solid impressed current anodes (without coke backfill)...

Without coke backfill, the anode reactions proceed according to Eqs. (7-1) and (7-2) with the subsequent reactions (7-3) and (7-4) exclusively at the cable anode. As a result, the graphite is consumed in the course of time and the cable anode resistance becomes high at these points. The process is dependent on the local current density and therefore on the soil resistivity. The life of the cable anode is determined, not by its mechanical stability, but by its electrical effectiveness. 

For installations with continuous coke backfill, the anodes can be installed at double the spacing of the anode bed extension. The lower the ratio p /p (i e., the higher the specific soil resistivity), the further apart the anodes can be placed. 

Fig. 9-4 Effective anode lengthening by coke backfill with Eq. (9-3) with Pc = 1 G m and C = 0.31.

In total, three high-silicon iron anodes of 3 kg each were installed at points a, aj and as shown in Fig. 11-3. The anodes were bedded vertically in fine-grained coke in boreholes about 2.3 m deep and J = 0.2 m so that the length of the coke backfill was about 1 m. Each anode was connected by a separate cable to the anode bus bar of the transformer-rectifier to allow the current of individual anodes to be monitored. Three cathode cables 2x4 mm were installed for the return path of the protection current and attached on the tank end to the connecting clamps of the dome support. 

The grounding resistance of the three anodes with the stated dimensions of the coke backfill, a soil resistivity of 75 D m and an interference factor, F = 1.2, was calculated from Eq. (24-35) as about 14 Q. After the anode installation was in operation, measurements of the grounding resistance gave a value of about 12 Q. 

Additional individual anodes must be installed at points on the protected object where a sufficiently negative pipe/soil potential cannot be achieved. Since usually only the voltage cone is of interest, the place of installation does not depend on the specific soil resistivity. Coke backfill is not necessary, and the place of installation is determined by the local circumstances. Individual horizontal anodes are conveniently installed parallel to the pipeline at the depth of the pipe axis. The voltage, length and distance of the anodes from the protected object are chosen according to Section 9.1 so that criterion No. 6 or No. 7 in Table 3-3 is fulfilled. 

Installation of an anode bed with 4 FeSi anodes in coke backfill, cable and connecting sleeves, including earthworks DM 6000... 

The transition resistance between the surface of the metal and the electrolyte with uncoated iron anodes in coke backfill, the transition resistance is usually low. With metals in soil, it can be increased by films of grease, paint, rust or deposits. It contains in addition an electrochemical polarization resistance that depends on the current [see Eq. (2-35)]. 

Fiqure 13.18 Conventional groundbed using petroleum coke backfill and 5 cm cast iron anodes. (Courtesy of Dean Rookes, West Coast Corrosion Prevention Ltd.)... 

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