The Principle of Cathodic Protection

All metals and alloys undergo a natural process of corrosion depending on the
metal and the surrounding environment. Metal atoms have loosely bonded
electrons which they tend to lose. When a metal is immersed in an electrolyte
such as sea-water this tendency results in the setting up of an electric potential.
The loss of electrons from the metal leads to its dissolution or corrosion.

Further if two dissimilar metals are electrically in contact and immersed in the
same electrolyte, the more reactive (or baser) metal will part with its electrons
more readily and will corrode in preference to the less reactive (or nobler)
metal. The surface or material where loss of electrons and hence corrosion
takes place is called the anode and the surface where electrons are absorbed
and where there is no corrosion is called the cathode.

Even in a seemingly uniform single metal structure (for instance a ships hull
or the legs of an off shore platform) there will be enough metallic dissimilarities
to create internal anode anodic and Cathodic spots on the surface leading to
corrosion. In a painted surface if there is a small area where the paint has
deteriorated that area will become anodic with reference to its neighbouring
areas leading to corrosion. If there are bi-metallic connections for example
the hull of a ship is steel while the propellers are bronze (a metal that is
Cathodic to steel) anodes and cathodes are automatically created leading to
corrosion.

In summary, corrosion can thus be seen to be an electro-chemical phenomenon.

 These anodic and cathodic areas
exist in the ships structure due
coupling of metals of different
compositions and potentials, physical
difference in grades, deterioration of
metal or non-uniformity in painting.
Once such an area is formed, then
the rate of corrosion accelerates very
fast
Functioning of an Impressed Current
Cathodic Protection System
ICCP Systems work by taking the ships power, converting it using as a
transformer rectifier unit into direct current and impressing this on to the
hull through inert anodes strategically positioned on the hull.

The current will flow from the inert anodes through the sea water and back
to the hull. This is ensured by a sufficiently large dielectric coating applied
on the hull around the anode.

ICCP Systems are generally self-regulating using a feedback control system.

This is done by positioning suitable Reference Electrodes at various points
on the structure to measure the potential of the structure at those points.
By comparing the measured potential with the desired non-corroding
structure potential, the control unit of the ICCP System determines whether
the current feed to the hull through the anodes should be increased,
decreased or maintained. The objective is to ensure that the potential of the
structure as measured by the Reference Electrodes is as close to the desired
protection potential as possible.
 Advantages of an ICCP System Carefully designed ICCP
Systems can compensate for a fair amount of coating
damage and help extend dry-docking intervals.
There are typically no anode removals required during the
dry-docks unlike in the case of Sacrificial Anode system and
hence, maintenance costs are reduced.
The instrumentation on the ICCP control panels enables the
protection levels to be continuously monitored.
The ICCP anodes are generally flush mounted on the hull or
even if surface mounted are very few in number thereby
reducing structural loading as compared to sacrificial anode
and providing significantly less hydrostatic and
hydrodynamic resistance, thereby reducing fuel consumption
of the ship.