Half-Cell Selection, Calibration and Maintenance

The half cell is a stable reference electrode used to measure the potential of another electrode. There are several types of reference
electrodes, but the most common types are saturated Copper/Copper Sulfate (CSE) electrode, Silver/Silver Chloride (SSC) electrode, and
Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE).
a) Half-Cell Selection
The selection of reference electrode depends on the environment of application:

CSE is usually used in soil and freshwater environments

SSC is usually used in seawater environments
SCE is usually used for laboratory work

b) Half-Cell Calibration
This can be done by measuring the voltage difference between the used reference and another standard (unused) reference, as shown
below.

If the voltage difference between the two reference electrodes is more than 5 mv, maintenance is required for the field reference
electrode.
c) Half-Cell Maintenance

The copper rod may be cleaned with a 10% nitric acid solution and the rod should be immersed for several minutes to remove
all surface products and contaminants. Sandpaper may be used for cleaning the copper rod.

After cleaning the rod, it should be thoroughly rinsed in distilled water.

The plastic electrode tube can be washed with soap and water with the distilled water used for rinsing.
The porous ceramic plug may be soaked in distilled water to reduce or eliminate any contaminants.
Soaking for several hours may be required, with several changes of the water.
When the electrode has been fully cleaned, it can be re-assembled and filled with the Copper Sulfate solution.

The Copper Sulfate solution should be saturated, with loose crystals visible, and the end cap placed over the plug when not in
use (to prevent leakage and contamination).

Field Connections
This is the potential of the buried pipeline to be measured with respect to a stable reference electrode. For accurate measurements, the
reference electrode needs to be placed directly over the center line of the pipe.

The pipeline needs to be connected to the voltmeter negative terminal and the reference electrode to the positive terminal. By
this connection, the current will flow from the voltmeter positive terminal to the negative terminal.
The displayed value is positive, indicating that the reference electrode is more positive than the pipeline. The electrical continuity of the
pipeline needs to be checked before the measurement.

Considerations During Measurements

During pipe-to-electrolyte potential measurements, which determine the level of cathodic protection at the test site, one should consider the
following:

Effectiveness of coatings, particularly those known or suspected to be deteriorated or damaged

Location of shorted or isolated casings

Contacts with other metals or structures

Bare sections of pipe

Bonds to mitigate interference
Parallel coated pipelines, electrically connected and polarized to different potentials
Shielding
Effects of other structures on the measurements
History of corrosion leaks and repairs
Location of impressed current anodes
Unknown, inaccessible or direct-connected galvanic anodes
Location of isolation devices, including high-resistance pipe connections and compression couplings
Presence of electrolytes, such as unusual corrosives, chemical spills, extreme soil resistivity changes, acidic waters and
contamination from sewer spills
DC interference currents, such as HVDC, telluric, welding equipment, foreign rectifier, mining equipment, and electric railway or
transit systems
Locations where the pipe enters and leaves the electrolyte
Areas of construction activity during the pipeline history
Valves and other appurtenances
HVAC overhead power lines

Voltage Drop Errors

This is according to Ohm's law V=IR, where I: represents the cathodic protection current; V: represents the total voltage drop; and R:
represents the path resistance.
Voltage drops, rather than those across pipe/electrolyte interfaces, represent an error due to the passage of current in voltmeter, test leads,
reference electrode, electrolyte, coating, and the pipe itself.
Elimination of Voltage Drop Errors:
In order to eliminate errors in the measured potential, the following needs to be considered:

The input impedance of the voltmeter needs to be higher than the total measurement circuit resistance. Input impedance of 10
Ohm is sufficient for accurate measurement, while lower values may be accepted if they're higher than the total circuit
resistance.

Note: The difference between errors can be due to the design accuracy of the voltmeter and due to voltage drop errors in the measuring
circuit.

The contact resistance of the reference electrode needs to be as low as possible. This can be done by wetting the contact area,
especially for frozen, concrete or asphalt layers.

Test leads needs to be checked for any broken points, bare areas or bad connections.
For accurate measurements, it must be taken in the upper two-thirds of the selected range for a particular instrument.

In order to eliminate voltage drop errors due to the passage of current in the electrolyte, one of these needs to be considered:

The reference electrode should be placed very close to the buried pipeline, maybe at a distance twice the reference electrode
diameter.

Interruption of CP current sources instantaneously in order to measure the polarized potential of the pipeline. CP current
sources includes impressed currents, galvanic anodes, stray currents and electrical bonds.

Note: Before current interruption, a time for polarization needs to be considered.

Voltage drop errors due to the passage of current in the pipe itself needs to be considered, especially when the reference electrode is
placed remotely from the pipeline connection. These errors either cause an increase or decrease in the measured potential according to the
direction of current with respect to the reference electrode position. These errors commonly appear when close interval potential surveys
are conducted.
To conclude: Potential measurement is an important method used for several cathodic protection surveys. It has to be done by a qualified
person for accurate measurement records.