Cathodic protection apparatus and method for steel reinforced concrete structures

摘要

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.