PLATTLINE Zinc Ribbon Anodes
AC Mitigation
Dissipating Interference through Grounding
The long-term trend in the United States and many other countries is shared land use for pipelines and other utilities. This movement has increased the number of overhead high voltage transmission lines parallel to and sharing a corridor with an underground pipeline. This combination has increased the need for grounding of the pipeline to dissipate interference.
In these systems, A.C. voltages are transmitted to the pipeline by conductive or inductive interference. Magnetic induction acts along the pipeline or pipeline segment that is approximately parallel to the power line and can cause significant pipeline potentials even at relatively large separation distances.
Consideration must be given to safety of personnel and the public who may come into contact with above ground portions of the pipeline such as valves and test stations. These exposed structures can be a potential shock hazard when touched while the soil is at a significantly different potential.
The Gradient Control Wire Method
Advances in interference control have resulted in the gradient control wire method. This method consists of one or more bare zinc conductors buried parallel to and near the pipeline and regularly connected to it. Plattline™ zinc ribbon anode used in this way is very effective in mitigating excessive pipeline potentials due to both inductive and conductive interference. (See Figures 1 & 2.) Plattline evens out pipeline and soil potential differences. Additionally, Plattline can provide cathodic protection to the pipeline.
The Platt Brothers & Company