Corrosion Engineering (Practical)

Name: Farwa Naeem Roll No: 16MME-S2-317

Semester: 6th Session: 2016-20

Date of Submission: 03/12/2019

Experiment No. 5
1. Measuring pipe-to-soil potential (PSP) which is under sacrificial cathodic protection
according to NACE standard TM0497-2012. (P/S potential measurement).
2. Measuring potential of protected (with zinc anode) and unprotected pipe vs Ag/AgCl
reference electrode in sea water.

Lab Instructor Signature: ________________

Grade/Marks: _______________
Figure 1: Sacrificial Cathodic protection

Figure 2: Showing principle of cathodic protection potential vs. different reference

electrodes.
1. Experimental Title
Measuring pipe-to-soil potential (PSP) which is under sacrificial cathodic protection
according to NACE standard TM0497-2012. (P/S potential measurement).
Objective
The objective of this experiment is to measure the pipe-to-soil potential (PSP) which is under
sacrificial cathodic protection according to NACE standard TMO497-2012, check that
whether the pipe is in protected or unprotected zone, anode is active or not and determine the
direction of current. The main objective of this experiment is to measure the closed-circuit
potential/ driving potential (Ecell).
Principle
The cathodic protection can be achieved by two methods;
(a) By impressed current system
It uses a power source to force current from inert anodes to the structure to be
protected (iron pipe).
(b) By sacrificial anode system
It uses active metal as anode e.g. Zn, Al or Mg to provide the cathodic protection
current to the structure as shown in figure 1.
Background
Sacrificial cathodic protection
Cathodic protection can be applied by connecting sacrificial anodes to a structure. Driving
potential also Ecell vs Copper-Copper Sulphate ref. electrode, is measured using voltmeter.
Driving potential depend upon temperature i.e. temperature increases, driving potential
changed. Electrolyte used in PSP is soil. According to ohms law, driving potential increases
current increases. According to Faradays law, current increases dissolution of anode
increases. Hence, as driving potential of Al & Fe is low, dissolution rate is also low.
Economically Al is preferred for new implantations as it has low dissolution rate. Anode will
have longer life. For already installed aggressively corroded steel pipes, Mg must be used. As
it is very active, has more potential difference value hence will provide more protection. Zn,
Al anodes are common in submarines, oil pipes applications.
Wires (100% insulating) used to connect anode and cathode in sacrificial corrosion should
have low resistivity. By increasing area of connecting wires resistivity can be minimize, this
also give strength to it and prevent breakage.
Zn anodes are used where soil resistivity is moderate. For steel pipeline, less driving potential
can be employed. Resistivity of soil in anode beds is moderate. Soil resistivity meter is used
to measure soil resistivity. Hence Zn can be used as active anode. If soil resistivity is high it
is impossible for anode and cathode to connect. Zn based anodes were made in foundry using
backfilled materials.
Reference electrode is connected to Common (Black Lead) and steel pipe to Red lead.
 voltmeter

anode Ref.
Figure 3: Schematic diagram showing open circuit potential measurement of active anode vs
ref. electrode

Figure 4: Schematic diagram showing open circuit potential measurement of cathode (Metal
to be protected) vs ref. electrode

Voltmeter

Anode cathode Ref.

Figure 5: Schematic diagram showing closed circuit potential (Ecell) measurement vs ref.
electrode

Figure 6: Short circuiting of circuit using PVC pipe

Open circuit potential
Individual potential of anode or cathode vs reference electrode is called open circuit potential.
Whole cell is not involved as shown in figure 3 & 4.
Closed circuit potential (Ecell)
Common potential difference of the cell vs reference electrode is called close circuit
potential/ driving potential/ Ecell. Whole cell is involved as shown in figure 5.
IR drop/ Ohmic drop/ Ohmic resistance
Electrolytic resistance is called ohmic resistance. It depends up on IR values and electrolyte
resistance i.e. electrolyte resistance increases ohmic drop increases. Potable reference
electrode develops the ohmic drop.
To measure the accurate pipe-to-soil potential a PVC pipe is installed up to structure and
reference electrode is placed in it so that it touches the steel pipe as shown in figure. This will
limit the ohmic drop. This is called shot circuiting (closed circuit with no resistance) as
shown in figure 6.
PSP survey (Pipe-to-soil potential)
Measuring potential of underground buried pipes at different points. Values vary with
varying Ohmic drop. Its importance is that, it will define how far the anode is influencing the
pipeline. So that we can place next anode, where potential value drops to zero. To increase
the influence, the anode is place far away (increase spreading angle).
Current direction (PSP)
Pipe-to-soil potential can also be used to find current direction which will ultimately tell the
anode position. For this, two reference electrodes are placed at two different places in soil
and both are connected to voltmeter as per standard as shown in figure. Positive potential will
tell that current is flowing in same direction i.e. from positive (red terminal) to negative
(black terminal) terminal. In corrosion current flow because of electrons. Should flow from
positive to negative terminal.
Standard for Experiment
NACE standard TM0497-2012: Standard testing method measurement techniques related to
criteria for cathodic protection on underground or submerged metallic piping systems
Apparatus
1. Test station
2. Copper bus
3. Active Anode (Zn)
4. PVC Pipe
5. Copper-Copper Sulphate reference electrode
6. Steel Pipeline
7. Voltmeter
 Figure 7: Schematic Diagram of open circuit potential measurement of steel pipeline using
reference electrode.

Figure 8: Test station developed

Figure 9: Copper bus developed

Materials
1. Soil
2. Water
Procedure
1. Three anode beds of 2 feet length and 3 feet depth was dug in the soil.
2. Cathode (steel pipes) had been placed horizontally inside each ground bed and
connected to active Zn anodes as shown in figure 7.
3. Test station as shown in figure 8 (Test Station is a place where testing is done) was
developed by connecting steel pipe (cathode) and Zinc active metal (anode) to copper
bus (copper bus provides electrical conduction) using copper wires. Soldering was
done in order to avoid connection breakage. (figure 9)
4. Whole setup was buried with copper bus heading out.
5. Before measuring the potential, wetted the soil, frit of Copper-Copper Sulphate
reference electrode was buried in test station soil and connected with the black
terminal of voltmeter. The red terminal was connected with copper.
6. Reduction potential values of steel pipe & Zn anode were measured.
7. To detect the anode position under station. Direction of current was checked by
placing two reference electrodes at two different places in soil and both were
connected to two different points at copper bus through voltmeter as per standard.
Here impressed current is not used because there is a bundle of pipes underground. If we
connect one pipe to power source, due to mutual induction, current will also flow through
other pipes and cause corrosion in unprotected pipe and ultimately burst.
Result
1. Anode is working accurately, and metal is in protected zone.
2. Cathode reduction potential was high and anode reduction potential will be low.
3. Positive potential will tell that current is flowing in same direction i.e. from positive (red
terminal) to negative (black terminal) terminal.
Observations
Reference electrode = Cu-CuSO4 (sat.) Cathode = steel pipe
Electrolyte = soil Anode = zinc

Table 1: Showing Open Circuit Potential of zinc & iron measured through test station vs
CCSE

Open Circuit Potential vs Steel Pipe Zinc Anode

CCSE
(mV)
1. -457 -1188
2. -540 -1045
Average -498.5 -1116.5
E vs SHE -180 -798

Table 2: Showing Closed Circuit Potential (Ecell) of zinc & iron measured through test station
vs CCSE

Closed Circuit Potential (Ecell) vs CCSE Steel Pipe (cathode) + Zn anode

(mV)
1. -608
E vs SHE -290

Discussion
The steel pipeline is cathodic ally protected by its connection to a sacrificial zinc anode
buried in the same electrolyte (soil). Current flows through the electrolyte from the anode to
cathode. The pipe-to-soil potential is the potential difference between a buried piping line and
the soil interface. The cathodic protection of pipeline in the soil as shown in Fig. 7. The
anode is connected directly to the structure using copper wires. Since, zinc anodes have a
lower driving voltage than that of magnesium, zinc anodes are typically used in low soil
resistivity applications.
Open circuit potential
If the open circuit potential of zinc through test station is around -1100 mV vs. Cu/CuSO4
(sat.CuSO4) and that of iron is around -400 mV vs. Cu/CuSO4 (sat.CuSO4), active cathodic
protection can takes place. The Table 1 shows the open circuit potential of cathode and
anode, the measured steel pipeline (cathode) potential on the average is -498.5 mV vs.
Cu/CuSO4 (sat.CuSO4) & that of zinc (anode) is -1116.5. Indicating cathode is at severe
corrosion point whereas anode is corrosion free.
Anodic reaction
Zn → Zn+2 + 2e-
Cathodic reaction
O2 + 4H+ + 4e- → 2H2O

Closed circuit potential

In a closed circuit, the electrons pass through the electrolyte from zinc to cathode. All the
zinc is consumed as it is active metal, hence zinc exhibits sacrificial corrosion. Closed circuit
potential is the potential of whole cell i.e. Ecell. From table 2, Ecell of the cell is -608 mV. It
indicates that the anode is not dead (broken connection with cathode). From Ohms law more
the driving potential more will be the dissolution rate.

2. Experimental Title
Measuring potential of protected (with zinc anode) and unprotected pipe vs Ag/AgCl
reference electrode in sea water.
Demonstration
Two pipes (steel pipe 1 & 2) placed side by side in same electrolyte (sea water) as shown in
figure 10. Pipe 1 is protected by attaching active zinc anode to it (sacrificial corrosion) and
Pipe 2 is not protected. Concentration difference (Electrochemical series) created, hence form
a galvanic cell. Corrosion takes place in unprotected pipe (Pipe 2) aggressively.
Figure 10: Demonstrating two pipes, one protected (steel pipe 1) and other not protected
(steel pipe 2), in same electrolyte (Sea water)

Results

Reference electrode = Ag/AgCl Cathode = steel pipe

Electrolyte = sea water Anode = zinc

Table 3: Showing Open Circuit Potential of steel pipes placed in same electrolyte vs
Ag/AgCl

Open Circuit Potential vs Steel Pipe 1 Steel Pipe 2 Zinc Anode

Ag/AgCl(sea water)
(mV)
1. -360 -325 -720
2. -278 -700
Average -360 -301.5 -710
E vs SHE -110 -51 -460

Table 4: Showing Closed Circuit Potential of protected steel pipe vs Ag/AgCl

Closed Circuit Potential vs Ag/AgCl(sea water) Steel Pipe 1 (cathode) + Zn anode

(mV)
1. -308
2. -300
Average -304
E vs SHE -54
To measure the potential of cell (driving potential), Silver-Silver Chloride reference electrode
is employed. Voltmeter is connected in such a way that its positive terminal (red one) is
connected first to pipe 1 and negative (black one) with reference electrode (Ag/AgCl), and
then with pipe 2. Note down both readings. To measure open circuit potential, separate the
anode from pipe 1. Attach reference electrode (Ag/AgCl) to pipe 1. Connect voltmeter and
note reading. Do the same for pipe 2 & Zn anode.
Anodic reaction
Zn → Zn+2 + 2e- Eored = 0.7628V vs SHE
Eo = 0.5128 Ag/AgCl(sea water)

Cathodic reaction
Fe+2 + 2e- → Fe Eored = -0.409V vs SHE
Eo = -0.659V vs Ag/AgCl(sea water)