Electrochemical noise monitoring technique for cathodic protection systems

This work attempts to assess the possibility of using reciprocal frequency (1/f) electrochemical noise technique, based on the use of a microcomputer to monitor the performance of sacrificial anodes used in cathodic protection systems. Encouraging results were obtained in laboratory conditions and are presented here. The noise spectra obtained appear to characterise the corrosion attack in sacrificial anodes for cathodic protection systems. Good correlation was obtained between the galvanic current in a cathodic protection system (1:50 anode to cathode ratio) and the corrosion rate as measured by the standard deviation of the anode potential fluctuations. Preliminary results in the field are also presented.