Field Measurements
5:24
CP 1 – Cathodic Protection Tester Course Manual
©
NACE International, 2000
02/01/05
Electrical Continuity
All parts of a structure receiving cathodic protection from a single source,
galvanic anodes or impressed current, must have electrical (metal)
continuity. Welded structures by nature of the fabrication have electrical
continuity. If electrical continuity does not exist, bonds (cables) or some
other means must be used to establish continuity.
Among items requiring bonds are:
•
couplings and other compression fittings.
•
screw joints
•
bell and spigot joints
•
lap joint flanges
•
pile groups
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reinforcing steel in concrete.
Heat exchanger water boxes and tube sheets are often protected by anodes
in the water box. The water box is connected to the exchanger shell through
hinges and bolts. It is important that electrical continuity between the water
box and the shell be maintained in order to protect the tube sheet.
Electrical Isolation
Purpose and Usage
The purpose of electrical isolation is to confine the protective current to the
structure being protected. If, for example, a production well casing is being
protected, and it is electrically connected to unprotected structures such as
gathering or other pipe, building grounds, or other underground structures,
some of the protective current will be lost to those structures. As another
example, when galvanic anodes are used to protect well-coated piping or
tanks, loss of current to other structures often means that the piping or tanks
do not receive adequate current for protection.
Isolating fittings may also be used for stray current control. Isolation
strategically placed in a piping network, for example, can increase the
longitudinal resistance sufficiently to minimize the pick up of stray current.
Summary of Contents for CP 1
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