Corrpro Companies, Inc.

Other

David H Kroon

James B Bushman

Michael K Baach

Joseph W Rog

Gary Goldsmith

The invention relates to a cathodic protection system for above-ground storage tanks having metal bottoms, either new or retrofitted bottoms. A leak containing dielectric safety membrane is spaced a short distance below and extends beneath the tank bottom generally parallel thereto forming a narrow envelope. Compacted electrolytic conductor material is positioned between the membrane and the tank bottom supporting the tank bottom embedding a horizontally disposed cathodic protection anode, the anode being in the form of a matrix, maze or grid of interconnected titanium wires, or wires and ribbons or bars. A reticulate or open dielectric insulator may be embedded in the electrolytic conductor and positioned directly above the anode and such insulator is operable to keep any portion of the anode from contacting the tank bottom and to maintain a generally uniform spacing between the anode and tank bottom. The wires may extend transversely of the bars or ribbon and are spot welded or mechanically connected on uniform centers to such bars or ribbons on diameters or major chords of a circular tank bottom. A low profile connection is provided between the bars or wires and power feeds to a rectifier, and for large tank bottoms a multiplicity of such connections strategically spaced are provided. Similarly, a plurality of reference cells both in location and kind may be provided so there are redundant power feeds and reference cells. The anode is constructed by uncoiling, straightening, bending, arranging and connecting the wires and ribbons on a compacted layer of electrolytic conductor on the liner. After the power feeds and reference cells are attached and routed to the external rectifier or test station, the insulator may be placed above the anode. Further compacted electrolytic material fills the openings in the insulator and the tank bottom is then constructed on the compacted material.

Cathodic protection system for above-ground storage tank bottoms and

The invention relates to a cathodic protection system for an above-ground storage tank having a metal bottom, both new and retrofitted bottoms. A leak containing dielectric safety membrane is spaced a short distance below and extends beneath the tank bottom generally parallel thereto forming a narrow envelope. Compacted electrolytic conductor is positioned between the membrane and the tank bottom supporting the tank bottom embedding a horizontally disposed cathodic protection anode, the anode being in the form of a matrix or grid of interconnected titanium bars and ribbons. A reticulate dielectric insulator may be embedded in the electrolytic conductor and positioned directly above the anode and such insulator is operable to keep any portion of the anode from contacting the tank bottom and to maintain a generally uniform spacing between the anode and tank bottom. The ribbons extend transversely of the bars and are spot welded on uniform centers to bars on diameters or major chords of a circular tank bottom. A low profile connection is provided between the bars and power feeds to a rectifier, and for large tank bottoms a multiplicity of such connections strategically spaced are provided. Similarly, a plurality of reference cells both in location and kind may be provided so there are redundant power feeds and reference cells. The anode is constructed by uncoiling, arranging and connecting the bars and ribbons on a compacted layer of electrolytic conductor on the liner. After the conductors are attached and routed to the external rectifier, the insulator may be placed above the anode grid. Further compacted electrolytic conductor fills the openings in the insulator.

Cathodic protection system and method for above-ground storage tank

A cathodic protection system and method for steel reinforcement in concrete structures such as bridge decks, parking garage decks and highways utilizes platinized niobium or like metal wire anodes strategically positioned adjacent the concrete in a matrix of conductive carbonaceous material. The anode and matrix are preferably positioned in slots saw cut in the concrete surface avoiding the disposition of a conductive and wear resistant surface overlay which is not only expensive but which may exceed the design limitations of the structure. An impressed protective cathodic protection current is provided between the anodes and the steel of the structure. At places where the anode crosses in close proximity to reinforcing steel which may be exposed by the slot, or at places where cathodic protection current is not desired, a plastic sleeve may be placed over the anode. The anode may be connected directly to a current source or it may be spliced to an insulated copper lead wire and be brought down through the deck of the structure to be connected to the rectifier beneath the deck. Although more than one anode may be connected to any single rectifier circuit, it is preferred to have as many individual circuits as practicable to assist in analyzing the system performance with either permanently installed reference electrodes or portable reference electrodes.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

David H Kroon