Anode Resistance to Earth

Single - Multiple - Vertical - Horizontal

Anode Resistance to Earth
ohm-cm

Soil Resistivity =

feet

Anode Length =

inches*

Anode Diameter =

This calculator can be used to calculate resistance of anode

to coke breeze or resistance of coke column to earth. When
used to calculate resistance of coke column to earth, the
result may be a reasonable approximation of total
groundbed resistance; however, factors such as cable
resistance and anode to coke resistance are not included. *
The program converts inches to feet.
** Anode depth is doubled by the program

Multiple Anodes
(Leave blank for single anode configuration)
Number of Anodes =
feet

Anode Spacing =

Horizontal Configuration
(Leave blank for vertical anode configuration)
feet**

Anode Depth =

Reset
ohms

Resistance =

Single Vertical Anode

Multiple Vertical Anodes in Parallel

Formula Used:

Formula Used:

Where

Where

R=

resistance in ohms

R=

resistance in ohms

L=

anode length in feet

L=

anode length in feet

d=

anode diameter in feet

N=

the number of anodes

resistivity in ohm-cm

S=

anode spacing in feet

the natural logarithm function

d=

anode diameter in feet

=
ln is

N=

the number of anodes = 1

=
ln is

resistivity in ohm-cm
the natural logarithm function

Multiple Horizontal Anodes

Formula Used:

Where
R=

resistance in ohms

L=

anode length in feet

S=

twice the depth of anode in feet

N=

the number of anodes

d=

anode diameter in feet

=
ln is

resistivity in ohm-cm
the natural logarithm function

Anode Requirement Calculation

The following material was researched and was submitted as a guideline for calculating the requirements of sacrificial anodes for your
application:

a) Calculate the AREA to be protected.

b) The national Association of Corrosion Engineers, NACE standard RP-01-69 states the requirement of a
polarization to -0.85V versus Cu-saturated CuSO4, for protection of a steel structure in a neutral
environment. This is known as the POLARIZED POTENTIAL. The sacrificial anode system design requires
the current density to achieve this potential.

c) The CURRENT DEMAND is calculated by multiplying the required current density by the area. Note that
it is important to consider the environment that the metal is exposed to since the "current demand" may
vary with different combinations.

d) The next step is to determine the total required mass of the sacrificial anodes. The ANODE
CONSUMPTION is determined from tabulated consumption rates for the calculated current demand.

e) Divide the total required mass by an appropriate quantity of anodes that will create a uniform current
distribution over the entire area to be protected.

f) Calculate the ANODE RESISTANCE from the distribution and quantity of the sacrificial anodes.

g) From the anode resistance, R and voltage, V from the selected sacrificial anodes, the DESIGN OUTPUT
CURRENT, I is calculated using the following formula: I = V/R

Note that the output current should meet or exceed the required current from step C.

SAMPLE CALCULATION
o

1) Assume that the calculated Area of the ship's hull/steel surface to be protected is: 480m2.

2) The current density may be obtained from tabulated values found in the following text: {F.W.
Hewes, Cathodic Protection Theory and Practice, V. Ashworth and C.J.L. Booker, eds., Wiley
(Horwood), Chichester, West Sussex, 1986} For this example, we will assume a current density
requirement of 35mA/m2.

3) From step C, the Current Demand is: 35mA/m2 X 480m2 = 16800mA.

4) The output for zinc sacrificial anodes was determined to be 810 Ah/kg, with an efficiency of
90% usually applied, thus yielding an effective output of 729 Ah/kg. Therefore the consumption
is calculated as (729 Ah/kg) / (16.80 A) = 43.4 h/kg. Now, there are 8760 hours per year, thus
the amount of zinc required is: (8760 h/year) / (43.4 h/kg) = 202 kg/year.

5) For an anode supply of 4 years, 808 kg will be required. (202 kg/year X 4 years)

6) Next, calculate the anode resistance and determine the output current and compare the
output current to that calculated in step 3.

*Remember to distribute the anodes evenly over the entire area to be protected.
**To Calculate from Kilograms to Pounds, multiply the kg's by 2.2. This will give you the weight in pounds.

Galvanic Corrosion Chart

Electricity is generated from the difference in potential of disimular metals. All metals have a particular potential and a ranking from the most
passive (lowest potential - platinum), to the most active (highest potential - magnesium). When placed together the more active metal of the
two will dissolve (ionize). The farther apart the two metals are on the galvanic series, the greater the difference in potential and the stronger
the dissolution process will be. For example: Steel pipe, without the protection of a galvanic insulator, will show the highest rate of corrosion
at connections to copper.

ANODIC END (Most Likely to Corrode)

Magnesium
Magnesium Alloys
Zinc
Beryllium
Aluminum 1100, 3003, 3004, 5052, 6053
Cadmium
Aluminum 2017, 2024, 2117
Mild Steel 1018, Wrought Iron
HSLA Steel, Cast Iron
Chrome Iron (active)
430 Stainless (active)
302, 303, 321, 347, 410, 416 Stainless Steel(active)
Ni-Resist
316, 317 Stainless (active)
Carpenter 20Cb-3 Stainless (active)

Aluminum Bronze (CA687)

Hastelloy C(active) Inconel 625(active) Titanium(active)
Lead/Tin Solder
Lead
Tin
Inconel 600 (active)
Nickel (active)
60% Ni 15% Cr (active)
80% Ni 20% Cr (active)
Hastelloy B (active)
Naval Brass (CA464), Yellow Brass (CA268)
Red Brass (CA230), Admiralty Brass (CA443)
Copper (CA102)
Manganese Bronze(CA675), Tin Bronze(CA903, 905)
410, 416 Stainless(passive) Phosphor Bronze(CA521, 524)
Silicon Bronze (CA651, 655)
Nickel Silver (CA 732, 735, 745, 752, 754, 757, 765, 770, 794
Cupro Nickel 90-10
Cupro Nickel 80-20
430 Stainless (passive)
Cupro Nickel 70-30
Nickel Aluminum Bronze (CA630, 632)
Monel 400, K500
Silver Solder
Nickel (passive)
60% Ni 15% Cr (passive)
Iconel 600 (passive)
80% Ni 20% Cr (passive)
Chrome Iron (passive)
302, 303, 304, 321, 347 Stainless (passive)
316, 317 Stainless (passive)
Carpenter 20Cb-3 Stainless (passive), Incoloy 825 (passive)
Silver
Titanium (passive), Hastelloy C & C276 (passive)
Graphite
Zirconium
Gold
Platinum
CATHODE END (Least Likely to Corrode)

Anodic Index Chart

When dissimilar metals come in contact, galvanic compatibility is managed by the selection of finishes and plating to protect the base
materials from corrosion.

Harsh environments: not more than 0.15 V difference

Normal environments: not be more than 0.25 V difference

Controlled environments: not be more than 0.50 V difference

Metallurgy

Index (V)

Gold, solid and plated, Gold-platinum alloy

0.00

Rhodium plated on silver-plated copper

0.05

Silver, solid or plated; monel metal. High nickel-copper alloys

0.15

Nickel, solid or plated, titanium an s alloys, Monel

0.30

Copper, solid or plated; low brasses or bronzes; silver solder; German silvery high copper-nickel alloys; nickel-chromium 0.35
alloys

Brass and bronzes

0.40

High brasses and bronzes

0.45

18% chromium type corrosion-resistant steels

0.50

Chromium plated; tin plated; 12% chromium type corrosion-resistant steels

0.60

Tin-plate; tin-lead solder

0.65

Lead, solid or plated; high lead alloys

0.70

Aluminum, wrought alloys of the 2000 Series

0.75

Iron, wrought, gray or malleable, plain carbon and low alloy steels

0.85

Aluminum, wrought alloys other than 2000 Series aluminum, cast alloys of the silicon type

0.90

Aluminum, cast alloys other than silicon type, cadmium, plated and chromate

0.95

Hot-dip-zinc plate; galvanized steel

1.20

Zinc, wrought; zinc-base die-casting alloys; zinc plated

1.25

Magnesium & magnesium-base alloys, cast or wrought

1.75

Beryllium

1.85