Cooling Water Systems (www.power-eng.

com)

Surface condensers, shell and tube heat exchangers, valves, strainers, screens and pumps can all be
cathodically protected from corrosion. Frequently the main surface condensers in a power plant have
carbon steel water boxes with an internal epoxy coating or rubber lining applied. However, without
cathodic protection, any defect in the coating or liner can cause corrosion to develop more quickly than
on surfaces that have no coating or liners. Still, the use of coatings and liners does significantly reduce the
amperage required by cathodic protection systems.

Because galvanic systems require a system shutdown for inspection and replacement of the sacrificial
anodes, impressed current systems are the best solution for large condenser water boxes. When an
impressed current system is used frequent anode replacement is not required.

Special care must be taken when providing

cathodic protection on condensers using
titanium tubes and tube sheets. When these
materials are subjected to excessive current they
become susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement.
A typical impressed current water box system is
shown on Figure 4. To limit the current output
below thresholds that might cause hydrogen
embrittlement of the tubes and tube sheet, a
reference cell must be connected to a rectifier.
This allows automatic adjustment of the currant
output if needed.