Effects of backfill type variations on current protections in impressed current cathodic protection using battery current sources

Abstract

Backfill in impressed current cathodic protection has a function to make the environment more uniform. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the type of backfill on current protection with coal breeze backfill, graphite backfill and chemical backfill on the design of impressed current cathodic protection systems on API 5L grade B steel pipes using battery electric current source. From the results of this study found the value of the current generated using the graphite backfill produces a large protective current from other backfills. This shows that graphite backfill has smaller resistivity to the other backfills, it will produce a high protection current in anode material so the cathode is more protected. Electric current generated from the battery approaches the electric current produced by the rectifier. This shows that the battery can be used to replace the rectifier as an electric current source for impressed current cathodic protection.