Energy efficient station for cathodic protection of underground metalic pipelines using pulsed current modes

Abstract

The perspectivity of protection against corrosion by pulsed current in terms of improving the energy efficiency of cathodic protection stations (CPS) are shown. The cathode polarization of the steel structure to the required protective potential values is provided by the station-controlled current parameters, as well as the transition from the direct current mode to the pulse mode and vice versa. A combined load model was implemented, including a traditional electric circuit for replacing a pipeline and a model based on fuzzy rules (FR), which connect the value of protective potential with the state of protective coatings of an underground steel structure, as well as the parameters of exposure to a corrosive environment. The control of the CPS modes using the FR system made it possible to optimize the station’s power consumption modes taking into account the variability of external environmental factors affecting the underground pipelines.