Kirk-Polarization Cell

The Kirk cell is an electrochemical device which basically resembles an

electrochemical safety switch. Its function is to shunt hazardous voltages to
ground in installations which, for reasons of corrosion protection, may not be
grounded via metal conductors. The cell has a low resistance to the passage of
AC current while blocking DC current. The Kirk cell consists of multiple pairs of
stainless steel plates which are immersed in a 30% potassium hydroxide
electrolyte solution. An oil seal floating on the electrolyte prevents evaporation,
absorption of atmospheric gases and excessive foaming under high current flow.
The cell blocks direct current up to a direct voltage of 1.2 V. When the direct
voltage on the plates becomes higher than this, electrolysis begins, causing film
of oxygen gas to form on the positive plates hydrogen gas on the negative
plates. The internal resistance of the Kirk cell is thereby reduced and the direct
current flows through the cell. AC current is conducted by the low resistance
plate condenser effect of the cell. The cell has to be installed in well ventilated
locations, protected from sunlight and rain. Provided the liquid level is
maintained within the marked lines, the cell can be unproblematically used in
ambient temperatures between -40C and +60C. The top up interval varies
according to the installation conductions (approx. 1 year).

Polarization cell protects against induced AC current and ground fault current on buried pipelines. Polarisation
cells permit low-level voltage of cathodic protection to uniform flow and prevent hazardous voltages. Polarization
cell consist of multiple plates of steel arranged, fixed and immersed in 30% KOH (Potassium Hydroxide) solution.
Specially selected oil layer stop the evaporation of solution to some extend. It is advisable to verify the solution
level periodically. Polarization cell is fitted in transparent body to check solution level. Normal storage of cell does
not have any internal voltage and act as a grounding switch in presence of high voltage. Polarisation cell works
on electrochemical principle. Installed plates with large surface area polarize and allow in developing safe DC
voltage suitable for cathodic protection. As the voltage increases from DC or AC voltage, the polarisation film
breaks and polarization cell conduct current. Specially designed polarization cells have properties to retain
solution level to the maximum period with specially added floating oil. Polarisation cells are designed to protect
personnel and equipment from electrical disturbances
Polarisation cells control the flow of potentially dangerous AC and DC current in buried surface protected oil &
gas, water pipelines on the buried metallic structures. Grounding cells needs to be installed with high precaution
of gas ventilation. Improper installation could produce hazardous gases resulting to cause explosion and harmful
to operators. The polrization cells are safe while using as per the rated capacity given in the information section
to prevent corrosion

The Kirk Cell acts as an electrochemical switch, blocking DC voltages in the

cathodic protection range while instantaneously shunting hazardous voltages to
ground. The Kirk Cell consists of multiple pairs of stainless steel plates immersed in
a potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution. An oil seal floating on the electrolyte
prevents evaporation, absorption of atmospheric gases and excessive foaming
under high current flow. DC current flow through the Kirk Cell causes a film of gas to
form on the plates offering high resistance to low voltage DC current. As the applied
voltage across the cell increases, current flow through the cell increases causing the

thickness of the polarization gas film to increase. When the leakage threshold is
exceeded, the film starts to break down and the cell resistance quickly decreases as
the applied voltage increases. AC voltages and higher DC voltages see the Kirk Cell
as a dead short. Galvanized steel enclosures are offered for exterior or interior
installations of the cell.
The Kirk Cell comes in three different models: K-50, K-25 and K-5A. All models are
available with enclosures on request.

DIMENSIONS
Height to top of lid
Overall height
Width at bottom
Width at top
Depth at bottom
Depth at top

6 3/4
8 1/4
4 5/16
5 1/4
4 5/16
5 1/4

As the applied Electromagnetic Field (EMF) across the cell terminals increases,
current flow through the Kirk Cell will increase in general agreement with the data in
the Performance tables below. Actual current flow will vary with ambient conditions
including but not limited to: temperature, solution concentration and age.

K-5A KIRK CELL PERFORMANCE TABLE

Delta E
Apparent
Across Cell
Resultant
Internal
Terminals
Current
Impedance
(Volts)
Flow
(Ohms)
_______________________________________________________________

DIRECT CURRENT DATA

0.39
0.64
0.71
0.785
0.84
0.97
1.20*
1.26

100ua
1ma
2ma
3ma
4ma
5ma
6ma
7ma

3900
640
355
262
210
194
200
180

1.30
1.34
1.42
1.48
1.70
1.72
1.73
1.73
1.74
1.77
1.87
1.90
1.99
2.10
2.85
4.85

8ma
9ma
10ma
15ma
20ma
25ma
30ma
40ma
50ma
100ma
500ma
1A
5A
10A
100A
500A

163
148
142
99
85
69
58
43
35
18
3.7
1.9
0.4
0.21
0.029
0.0097

ALTERNATING CURRENT DATA

0.30
0.38
0.67
0.90
1.15
1.50
3.80

500ma
1A
5A
10A
50A
100A
500A

0.60
0.38
0.13
0.09
0.02
0.015
0.0076

*Leakage threshold

K-25 KIRK CELL

DIMENSIONS
Height to top of lid
Overall height
Width at bottom
Width at top
Depth at bottom
Depth at top

15 1/8
16 3/4
11 1/8
12 1/16
9 7/16
10 1/16

As the applied Electromagnetic Field (EMF) across the cell terminals increases,
current flow through the Kirk Cell will increase in general agreement with the data in

the Performance tables below. Actual current flow will vary with ambient conditions
including but not limited to: temperature, solution concentration and age.

K-25 KIRK CELL PERFORMANCE TABLE

Delta E
Apparent
Across Cell
Resultant
Internal
Terminals
Current
Impedance
(Volts)
Flow
(Ohms)
_______________________________________________________________

DIRECT CURRENT DATA

0.275
0.47
0.52
0.56
0.58
0.63
0.73
0.79
0.825
0.85
0.88
0.94
1.00
1.08
1.26*
1.55
1.66
1.68
1.72
1.76
1.86
1.90

100ua
1ma
2ma
3ma
4ma
5ma
6ma
7ma
8ma
9ma
10ma
15ma
20ma
25ma
30ma
40ma
50ma
100ma
500ma
1A
5A
10A

2750
470
260
187
145
126
122
113
103
94
88
63
50
43
42
39
33
17
3.4
1.8
0.37
0.19

ALTERNATING CURRENT DATA

0.02
0.04

0.5A
1A

0.04
0.04

0.06
0.30

5A
10A

0.01
0.03

*Leakage threshold

K-50 KIRK CELL PERFORMANCE TABLE

Delta E
Apparent
Across Cell
Resultant
Internal
Terminals
Current
Impedance
(Volts)
Flow
(Ohms)
_________________________________________________________________

DIRECT CURRENT DATA

0.15
0.38
0.42
0.45
0.46
0.48
0.50
0.52
0.53
0.55
0.59
0.69
0.86
0.925
1.00
1.16
1.20*
1.30
1.72
1.76
1.82
1.85
2.15
2.65
3.15

100ua
1ma
2ma
3ma
4ma
5ma
6ma
7ma
8ma
9ma
10ma
15ma
20ma
25ma
30ma
40ma
50ma
100ma
500ma
1A
5A
10A
100A
500A
1KA

1500
380
210
150
115
96
83
74
66
61
59
46
43
37
33
29
24
13
3.4
1.8
0.36
0.19
0.022
0.053
0.0032

ALTERNATING CURRENT DATA

0.01
0.02
0.04
0.20
0.58
0.62
1.30
10.6
12.5
14.0
15.0
17.0
19.9
*Leakage threshold

500ma
1A
5A
10A
50A
100A
500A
14KA
38.5KA
44.0KA
52.5KA
58.0KA
64.0KA

0.02
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.012
0.0062
0.0026
0.00076
0.00032
0.00032
0.00029
0.00029
0.00031