1200 CP for Pipelines Corrosion Prevention and Metallurgy Manual

Bare Lines
For bare lines, the initial drain tests normally consist of direct field measurement of
the distance that can be protected with a given current drain. Assuming uniform
conditions along the pipeline, the potential change at the midpoint between two
rectifiers draining equal currents is twice the voltage change produced by one recti-
fier. Consequently, if the tests use a single drain point the distance each rectifier can
protect if multiple units are installed is the distance at which one-half the desired
final voltage change is obtained.

Sizing the Rectifier

After rectifier sites have been selected and anodes and test leads installed, it is
usually desirable to conduct drain tests to determine by direct measurement the
current and voltage required at each drain point. These data determine the output
rating of the rectifier at each location. The tests are made using batteries or welding
generators as sources of direct current, and the permanent anodes and permanent
test leads. These tests are covered in Section 1700.

1222 Calculations
Single Drain Point
Figure 1200-4 shows a pipeline with current drained at a single point at one end,
together with typical attenuation curves. If the line is infinitely long, the current
flow and the change in voltage vary exponentially with distance along the line, as
shown by the curve labeled E and I - Infinite Line. If the line terminates in an
insulated flange or at a dead end, it is called a finite line.
The current at the far end of a finite line is, of course, zero, and the voltage change
is substantially higher than at the same distance on an infinite line. Figure 1200-4
also shows curves for finite lines of three different lengths, with the same voltage at
the drain point as for the infinite line. Length L1 is a short finite line; the current
drained is substantially less than for the infinite line. Length L3 is a moderately long
finite line. The current drained is nearly as great as from the infinite line, but the
potential at the far end is nearly twice that at the same distance on the infinite line.
In Figure 1200-4, the current at the drain point equals the current in the line as it
reaches the drain point, because current flows to the drain point from one direction
only.
Usually, the line extends in both directions from the drain point, and current flows
to the drain point from both sides.
Assuming a symmetrical, uniform system, the total current drained is then twice the
current reaching the drain point from either direction.

Multiple Drain Points

It is usually necessary to drain current from a long pipeline at numerous points.
Figure 1200-5 shows a portion of a long, uniform pipeline with current drained at
two points. The two drain points are considered independently, and the pipeline is

August 1999 1200-12 Chevron Corporation