The Origin of Cathodic Protection

The first practical application of a CP system occurred in 1824

The English scientist Sir Humphrey Davy discovered that small amounts of iron, zinc, or tin could protect larger areas of the copper sheathing on the British Navy sailing vessels thus reducing corrosion losses caused by exposure of the sheathing to salt water.

It is probably safe to say that all Navy vessels around the world use either galvanic or impressed current CP systems to protect the metallic hulls of their vessels.

Today, galvanic anode CP systems are in use worldwide protecting petroleum product pipelines, water transmission and distribution pipelines, and natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines.

Reprint from ELK Engineering Quarterly Newsletter – Spring 2008