When discussing the utility industry, a key factor that must be mentioned is how shared right of ways are affecting how we look at corrosion. With ever reducing land, more times than not pipelines and high voltage power lines need to share the same corridors. This causes somewhat unpredictable corrosion and is solved using AC mitigation. AC mitigation refers to the process of reducing or eliminating the adverse effects of Alternating Current (AC) on metal structures, particularly pipelines and tanks, that are protected by cathodic protection (CP) systems. This process involved grounding the affected pipeline so that the induced current caused by the powerline does not affect the pipeline.
Alternating current (AC) is commonly produced by electrical power lines and can interfere with CP systems. When AC electrical current flows through metal structures, it creates a fluctuating electrical potential that can disrupt the protective electrical potential created by the CP system. Not only does the AC current cause the assets to corrode unpredictably, it can also cause any cathodic protection system installed to operate unexpectedly as well.
AC mitigation involves various techniques to reduce or eliminate the impact of AC on CP systems. Some common methods include using alternating current voltage reduction devices, surge protection devices, or isolating the CP system from the AC source. The choice of mitigation method depends on the magnitude of the AC interference and the specific requirements of the structure being protected. For this type of corrosion, both BADGERCORD Zinc Ribbon and BADGERCABLE Linear Anodes are common solutions.
