Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Device - ICCP

ICCP is the abbreviation of "Impressed Current Cathodic Protection", which is an impressed current cathodic protection system.

A. Working Principle

The ICCP system is based on the electrochemical principle. Metals will gradually corrode in water due to electrochemical reactions, and the principle of cathodic protection is to apply a certain cathodic current to the protected metal structure of the hull, so that the hull metal becomes the cathode, thereby inhibiting the corrosion of the metal. The ICCP system uses an external DC power supply (usually a transformer rectifier device) to introduce current from the auxiliary anode (usually made of some materials with good corrosion resistance and high conductivity, such as platinum, titanium, etc.) into seawater. The seawater is used as an electrolyte to form a loop between the hull and the auxiliary anode. In this way, the potential on the surface of the hull metal is reduced to a negative value, making it in a cathodic polarization state, thereby inhibiting the occurrence of corrosion reactions.

B. Advantages

Good protection effect: It can provide a larger protection current, so that the hull metal is more effectively protected. Compared with the sacrificial anode cathodic protection method, the ICCP system can flexibly adjust the size and direction of the output current according to the actual situation of the hull, so as to better adapt to different navigation conditions and hull structures.

Long service life: The service life of the main components such as the auxiliary anode and the DC power supply is long, and they can generally be used for several years or even longer. Moreover, the maintenance and management of the ICCP system is relatively simple, and only regular inspection and maintenance of the system is required.

Wide range of applications: It is suitable for various types of ships, including large tankers, cargo ships, container ships, etc. Whether in the marine environment or in freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes, the ICCP system can play a good protective role.

C. Disadvantages

Large initial investment: The equipment cost of the ICCP system is high, and installation and commissioning also require professional technicians, so the initial investment is large. This may be a large burden for some small ships or shipowners with limited funds.

There is stray current interference: If the design and installation of the ICCP system is not reasonable, stray current may be generated, causing corrosion interference to other metal structures near the hull (such as propellers, rudders, etc.). Therefore, when designing and installing the ICCP system, effective measures need to be taken to reduce the generation and impact of stray current.

In short, the marine ICCP system is an important ship anti-corrosion technology, which can effectively protect the metal structure of the hull, extend the service life of the ship, and improve the safety and reliability of the ship. However, when using the ICCP system, attention should be paid to the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the system to ensure the normal operation and protection effect of the system.