Minimizing Grounding Resistance of Cathodic Protection Anode Bed with Finite Element Method

Abstract Cathodic protection (CP) anode bed grounding resistance calculating formulae, given by CP standards, are reviewed firstly. Underground assumptions and limitations of these grounding calculating formulae are analyzed, which means formula method may encounter problems when designing anode beds in high soil resistivity area. Based on finite element analysis (FEA) method, a new grounding resistance calculation method is suggested, which is can be treated as more suitable and flexible for anode bed grounding resistance calculation in high soil resistivity condition. The main steps of FEA method, geometric model building, meshing, boundary condition and solver setting, and grounding resistance calculating according to Ohmic law, are clearly presented. In order to introduce the FEA method in detail, a realistic anode bed design program for Northwestern China area, where soil resistivity is always very high, is demonstrated. Based field soil resistivity survey data by Wenner 4-pin method, the candidate anode bed site, named Station A, is regarded as optimal site, and Barnes’ soil layer analysis method is used to predict soil resistivity distribution in depth direction. Both formula method and FEA method are used to calculate grounding resistance. The following comparison results show that formulae from COR-GS-023, GB21448-2008, РД 153-39.4-039-99 standards and FEA method give out almost the same grounding resistance results under the assumption of uniform soil resistivity, which also, from another angle, verifies the correctness of FEA method. But for FEA method, designers can include realistic soil resistivity distribution function and any anode rod layout plan in calculation model. So, FEA method can be treated as a more flexible tool to calculate CP anode bed grounding resistance.