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ICCP
ICCP
ICCP
PROTECTION
Before the ICCP system came into play for rust prevention, “SACRIFICIAL
ANODES” were fitted all around the hull of the ship. These anodes used to get
consumed fairly rapidly and thus needed replacement each time, which could be
done only during dry-docking of the ship. In the interim, the hull used to corrode until
the next dry-dock. It was also expensive as each time the anodes had to be
replaced entirely. The ICCP system overcame this problem as it a completely
automatic system and did not require replacement of anodes, keeping the hull
protected at all times.
THEORY OF CORROSION:-
The iron hull of the ship is made of sheets of iron, welded together.
Being not 100% pure iron there will be other metals whose atoms
together with that of iron, have loosely bonded electrons which
they tend to lose.
Seawater in this case, acts as an ELECTROLYTE, thus it will
conduct electricity (or the electron flow). Therefore, the electrons
will flow from the +ve (Anode) area to the –ve areas (Cathode) on
the ship’s hull. The loss of electrons from the metal +ve areas leads
to its dissolution or corrosion at the +ve area. The chemical
reaction that takes place is explained below. Therefore, in order to
prevent corrosion from taking place, the entire ship’s hull should be
made Cathodic and thus prevent this electron flow. This is done by
the ICCP system.
OH- - (-ve ions) combines with FE++ (+ve ions) to give FE(OH)2 or
Ferrous Hydroxide.
The Oxygen (O2) dissolved in the seawater further oxidises the
Ferrous Hydroxide to produce FERRIC HYDROXIDE. THIS IS
“RUST” or FE(OH3).
In the above figure, Lead or Platinised Titanium are used for the ANODES. These
anodes are insulated from the hull of the ship. A current is sent to these anodes via
MANUAL or AUTO modes (normally about 20A), making the anodes MORE +VE
WRT THE SHIP’S HULL. This would thn make the electrons flow towards the hull of
the ship, thus preventing rusting. It should be noted, that if operated in manual
condition, the current should not be kept too high as it would dmage the hull paint
and cause it to flake increasing the chances of rusting.
In the AUTO mode, for proper protection to happen, a means to determine how –
ve the hull is, either ZINC or SILVER are used as REFERENCE ANODES.
For satisfactory protection, the protection current WILL MAKE THE HULL 200mV
MORE NEGATIVE.
THEREFORE IN SEAWATER,
Zinc is effectively -250mV wrt the hull(Fe)
Silver is effectively 800mV more +ve wrt the hull
These give the feedback signal to the Electronic regulator which in turn gives the
signal to the Control Amplifier to either INCREASE the protection current or
DECREASE it accordingly.
For example, if the Hull becomes LESS –VE, in other words, more Anodic in nature,
the Protective Anodes are made correspondingly more +ve and therefore in
relation, making the hull appear more –ve. The –ve Hydroxyl ions that were earlier
attracted to the +ve(Anodic) areas of the hull are now attracted to the more +ve
anodes and thus rusting is prevented.