During the plant start-up in 1984, about 70% of more than fifty new field erected ground storage tanks were showing signs of aggressive corrosion on the bottom underside. This was found to be due to deficiencies in the cathodic protection system, use of limestone aggregate in the foundation pads and aggressive soil conditions.

In subsequent years, an intensive tank bottom inspection program was implemented, especially for tanks containing hazardous products. Several tank bottoms were either replaced with foundation pad modifications or repaired with fiberglass lining. The cathodic protection system was also upgraded by adding more ground beds and rectifier units. Inspection results of several tanks, 10 years after the repairs show no significant signs of subsequent corrosion.

Subject
Materials, Cathodic protection, Sand, Inspection, Aggregates, Repair, Storage tanks, Construction, Oxygen, Corrosion coupons, Tank bottoms, Lining, Anodes
Keywords:
cathodic protection (CP), aggregate, sodium hydroxide (caustic), ethylene dichloride (EDC), crude industrial ethanol (CIE), sodium hypochlorite, ethyl benzene, oxygen concentration cell, ultrasonic meter, electrolyte
© 1998 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1998
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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