Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Assessment of Galvanic Anode Performance for Cathodic Protection of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Categories for this Invention
Technology: Cathodic Protection;
Industry & Application: Energy/Infrastructure, Advanced Material;
Market: The global cathodic protection market is anticipated to flourish at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2033.
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Problem Statement
- Corrosion of steel reinforcement is considered one of the most significant deterioration processes in reinforced concrete structures.
- Concrete patch repair is the most commonly adopted solution for addressing corrosion problems in reinforced concrete; however, it only provides a temporary solution.
- There are many solutions discussed herein including patch repairs which may result in repeated repairs leading to a costlier process & taking a longer period. Further, to ensure the quality & life of the galvanic anode, a short-term test method to evaluate the long-term performance of galvanic anodes is required
- Hence, Galvanic Anode Performance (GAP) test is developed.
Technology
- Present invention describes a short-term method for evaluating the long-term performance of galvanic anode for cathodic protection of RC structures.
- Said method comprises a few steps illustrated in the first step in the smart chart:
The following steps are mentioned herein below:
- Placing the cathode below the GAP test specimen and connecting said anode to the positive terminal of the DC power supply.
- Placing the GAP test specimen on the cathode made of corrosion resistant material and connecting it to the negative terminal of DC power supply.
- Filing up the reaction chamber above the base of the said test specimen, with an electrolyte such as concrete pore solution having a pH of 12-14;
- Setting a voltage gradient arrangement of a self-regulating cooling system, and
- Measuring and recording the output current from each specimen.
Key Features / Value Proposition
Technical Perspective:
- Cathode is selected from a group of corrosion-resistant metals or metal alloys.
- The cathode has a surface area greater than the surface area of the anode.
- Cathode is embedded in the mortar or placed adjacent to the surface of the mortar cover.
- The level of concrete pore solution should be maintained at a minimum level of 5 mm above the base of the GAP test specimen.
- Created potential gradients should be less than 10 V, ambient temperature is in a range from 10-40⁰C.
- The quality & service life of the anodes are assessed based on the measured output currents of the anode specimens.
- Self-regulating cooling system comprises an embedded temperature measuring sensor, self-controlling system, a continuously running electrolyte at a temperature in the range from 10-30⁰C, and one or more exhaust fan arrangement.
- Using the proposed test method, the anodes of any shape, size or metal type can be evaluated for their long-term performance.
Industrial Perspective:
- Develop an efficient short-term test method for evaluating the performance and life of galvanic anodes used for cathodic protection of concrete structures from corrosion.
- Helps in identifying a high-performance, durable, and long-lasting galvanic anode component.
- Applicable simulate steel in reinforced concrete structures, pipelines, power plants or any other infrastructure.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Radhakrishna G Pillai
Department of Civil Engineering
Intellectual Property
IITM IDF Ref. 1864
Patent No:387704;
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-4
Proof of concept tested in Lab