Research on Monitoring and Evaluation Model for Sacrificial Anodes in Seawater Pipelines

doi:10.11902/1005.4537.2026.046

Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection

2026, Vol. 46

Issue (4): 1296-1304 DOI: 10.11902/1005.4537.2026.046

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Research on Monitoring and Evaluation Model for Sacrificial Anodes in Seawater Pipelines

ZHANG Qiang¹^,²(

), LI De³, XIAO Diaobin¹, XIONG Zhuang³, SUN Wen²

^1.China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Co. Ltd., Wuhan 430223, China
^2.School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
^3.Sanmen Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., Taizhou 317109, China

Cite this article:

ZHANG Qiang, LI De, XIAO Diaobin, XIONG Zhuang, SUN Wen. Research on Monitoring and Evaluation Model for Sacrificial Anodes in Seawater Pipelines. Journal of Chinese Society for Corrosion and protection, 2026, 46(4): 1296-1304.

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Abstract

As a protective means sacrificial anode is an effective method of corrosion prevention for seawater pipelines in coastal power plants. However, to monitor its operation parameters, such as the consumption status of sacrificial anodes within seawater pipelines, remaining lifespan, and the intensity of protective current etc. is quite challenging. In this study, a specific section of Q235 steel seawater pipeline equipped with A21E-2 sacrificial anodes was selected to attempt to acquire the relevant output current and remaining capacity of those sacrificial anodes, and to evaluate their remaining service life. For this purpose, a numerical simulation model for the entire process of sacrificial anode cathodic protection is established by using the finite element method and applying appropriate polarization boundary conditions. This model takes into account the real-time changes in the corrosive environment, including temperature and flow velocity, and was optimized using digital twin technology. Compared with the measured data, the prediction accuracy of this model exceeds 80%.

Key words: coastal power plant numerical simulation sacrificial anode polarization surface seawater pipeline

Received: 06 February 2026 32134.14.1005.4537.2026.046

ZTFLH:

TG174

Fund: Research and Development Projects of CNNP(K220514)

Corresponding Authors: ZHANG Qiang, E-mail: zhangqiang06@cnnp.com

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	ZHANG Qiang
	LI De
	XIAO Diaobin
	XIONG Zhuang
	SUN Wen

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https://www.jcscp.org/EN/10.11902/1005.4537.2026.046 OR https://www.jcscp.org/EN/Y2026/V46/I4/1296

Fig.1 Geometric model of experimental setup

Table 1 Dimensions and mass of the A21E-2 sacrificial anodes with different remaining quantities

Fig.2 Polarization curves of the A21E-2 anode at different flow velocities (0-1.8 m/s) at 10 ℃ (a), 20 ℃ (b), and 30 ℃ (c)

Fig.3 Polarization curves of Q235 steel at different flow velocities (0-1.8 m/s) at 10 ℃ (a), 20 ℃ (b), and 30 ℃ (c)

Fig.4 Polarization surfaces of the A21E-2 anode (a) and Q235 steel (b) at 20 ℃

Table 2 Experimental data for typical operating conditions in the flowing water test

Fig.5 Theoretical output current data of the anode for all conditions supplemented by interpolation

Fig.6 Simulation results of anode output current under different operating conditions (a) and 3D schematic of the original data and fitted data surfaces (b)

Fig.7 Contour of flow field distribution inside the experimental setup at 100% anode remaining and a flow velocity of 0.8 m/s

Fig.8 Contour of electrode potential distribution (a-c) and contour of electrode current density distribution (d-f) inside the experimental setup at a flow velocity of 0.8 m/s and anode remaining of 100% (a, d), 60% (b, e), and 20% (c, f) (Unit: V)

Fig.9 Simulation predictions of anode output current under different flow velocities and different anode remaining quantities

Table 3 Comparison between predicted and measured values of sacrificial anode output current

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