cathodic protection system

Posted by & filed under Pipes.

Haven’t taken the necessary steps to secure the safety of your pipes? Then it’s a good thing you’re here.

Corrosion is a natural occurrence, but it’s not one that you want to happen at your business or your home. Protecting your pipes should be of utmost importance.

There are two safe cathodic protection systems that are proven to extend the life of your pipes. Read on to find out more – and to learn which system is right for you.

Galvanic Cathodic Protection System

There are two types of cathodic protection systems: the galvanic protection system and the impressed current protection system.

The galvanic protection system works when sacrificial anodes are fixed to the piping during the manufacturing phase. This requires special wiring for an inspection station to be installed near the surface of the ground.

Galvanic systems have a limited lifespan that depends on the life of the sacrificial anodes, which will continue to degrade as they protect the piping. Once the sacrificial anodes fail, the pipes will start to corrode.

This form of protection is the more common of the two since it’s much easier to set up and maintain. But it doesn’t hold up as well as the impressed current system.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System

The impressed current protection system takes a different (and perhaps more complex) route.

The impressed current system has a rectifier that allows it to convert an alternating current to a direct current to slow the formation of rust.

In other words, it uses an external power supply to drive continuous current through the pipes, minimizing the amount of corrosion.

Because of this, the impressed current protection system usually provides a much longer lifespan than the sacrificial anodes of the galvanic protection system.

If needed, the current can also be modified to be stronger or weaker, and the greater amount of control does drive people to choose this option over the galvanic system.

That being said, the impressed current system is considerably more expensive than the galvanic system, and it’s much more permanent – meaning once it’s installed, there’s really no going back.

Make sure to think hard before you go for this option.

So What’s the Best Choice?

Both the galvanic system and the impressed current system do the job (to varying degrees of power and longevity) so the best choice is really based on your personal preference.

Most companies tend to choose the galvanic system because it’s easy to buy and install the necessary parts. Plus, replacement parts are easy to come by, and its a cinch to switch them out.

The impressed current system makes sure that the job is done right for a much longer period of time, but replacing the parts will not be an enjoyable task.

Both systems are safe for the environment, so it all comes down to your needs – and your wallet.

Give Us a Call

No matter what system you choose, you need to make sure it’s done by the pros.

Find out more about how we do business, as well as tips to get the most life out of your pipes.

Still have questions? Send them our way. We’ll look into it and get back to you with factual answers you can trust.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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