What is the Anodeflex system?

The Anodeflex system is an impressed current, flexible cable anode for use in cathodic protection systems for buried structures. Placed alongside a pipe or other buried metal structure, the Anodeflex system provides uniform cathodic protection to every point, with a minimum of interference from adjacent structures.

The five basic elements in the Anodeflex system are:

• A high performance coke breeze, serving as the active matrix in which the anodic reactions take place.
• A copper conductor serving as a low resistance busbar to deliver the required current over considerable distance without incurring substantial longitudinal voltage drop.
• A special conductive polymer that seals the conductor from chemical attack, yet allows current to flow from the conductor to the environment all along its length.
• A fabric jacket to hold the coke breeze in place around the anode cable. This jacket is designed to resist electro-chemical attack, but to allow current flow from the anode to the surrounding soil.
• A tough, porous non-conductive brading jacket encases the Anodeflex 1500-01,enhancing its abrasion resistance and preventing the fabric from being damaged.

Why use Anodeflex systems?

The Anodeflex system is used to achieve effective and homogeneous cathodic protection over the entire surface of the buried structure. Cathodic protection current should not be supplied to high demand areas at the expense of remote parts of the structure. Homogeneous distribution therefore is more important than current output.

The Anodeflex system is a unique and cost effective way to keep the operation of a pipeline in compliance with cathodic protection DOT or other regulations. The use of the Anodeflex system on pipelines will eliminate many of the problems found with conventional groundbed anodes:

• It equalizes cathodic protection at consistent levels all along the line.
• Its low overall current output will stop further coating degradation caused by cathodic disbonding when higher current output anodes are used.
• Since the Anodeflex system is installed adjacent to the pipeline, and its current output per feet is low, interference problems are significantly reduced.
• In most cases the Anodeflex system can be installed in the pipeline ROW. Environmental and other ROW related problems are therefore kept to a minimum.