Potential Measurements on Pipelines and Storage Tanks

For determining the off potentials of cathodically protected pipelines, time relays are built into the cathodic protection station to intermpt the protection current synchronously with neighboring protection stations for 3 s every 30 s. The synchronous on and off switching of the protection stations is achieved with a synchronous motor activated by a cam-operated switch. The synchronization of the protection station is achieved as follows a time switch is built into the first protection station. An interruption of the protection current is detectable at the next protection station as a change in the pipe/soil potential. Since the switching time is known, the time switch of the second protection station can be activated synchronously. The switching of further protection stations can be synchronized in the same manner. 

Other timing switch gear works with electronic digital clocks. The 1-s time interval derived from the mains frequency is counted in an integrating counter. The 

It is recommended that all instruments be provided with an additional time switch, so that the interruption of the protection current supply outside working hours (i.e., during the night) is not maintained. In this way the reduction in the protection current supply is kept as small as possible this amounts to 10% with 27 s on and 3 s off. This can be significant in the measurement of a long pipeline, which can often take several weeks. 

In analyzing the results on a cathodically protected pipeline, the protection current density and coating resistances should be calculated for individual sections of the pipeline in addition to the on and off potentials, the pipe current, and the resistances at insulating points and between the casing and the pipeline. The results should be shown by potential plots to give a good summary [15] (see Fig. 3-20). 

In the cathodic protection of storage tanks, potentials should be measured in at least three places, i.e., at each end and at the top of the cover [16]. Widely different polarized areas arise due to the small distance which is normally the case between the impressed current anodes and the tank. Since such tanks are often buried under asphalt, it is recommended that permanent reference electrodes or fixed measuring points (plastic tubes under valve boxes) be installed. These should be located in areas not easily accessible to the cathodic protection current, for example between two tanks or between the tank wall and foundations. Since storage tanks usually have several anodes located near the tank, equalizing currents can flow between the differently loaded anodes on switching off the protection system and thus falsify the potential measurement. In such cases the anodes should be separated. 

---