SOLAR POWER FOR CATHODIC PROTECTION OF STEEL PIPELINE

In this study, 4.5 km long fuel pipeline, located on 41-degrees-N lati tude (Istanbul, Turkey) was cathodically protected with solar energy. Four commercial photovoltaic modules of a 12 V version were used. Inso lation data were collected by the aid of Florya Meteorological Station . The cathodic protection was applied for three years and kept under c ontrol during this period of time. Project criteria and reliability of the protection have been investigated. Better protection than the ava ilable criteria for steel pipeline was achieved even in winter solstic e months.