Formation of the protective potential of underground steel pipelines in the context of the development of modern converter technologies

Goal. To study the processes of forming the protective potential of underground steel pipelines in the face of the development of modern converter technologies. To evaluate the influence of the output signal parameters of cathodic protection rectifiers on the electrochemical protection of steel underground pipelines. Methodology. The computer modeling of electrochemical processes in underground steel pipelines under cathodic protection is performed. The spectral composition of the output signals of different types of rectifiers is analyzed. The influence of the waveform on the electrical system pipeline – soil– electrochemicalprotection is considered. Research results. The paper demonstrates that pulsations in the output signal of rectifiers affect the value of the impedance of the pipeline, which can cause a local decrease in the efficiency of cathodic protection. The opportunity to purposefully control the power spectrum of the rectifier output signal in order to increase the efficiency of electrochemical protection is proposed. Which is especially useful in cases of heterogeneous pipeline structure or variable environmental conditions. Scientific novelty. The correlation between the frequency characteristics of the output signal of the cathodic protection station rectifier and the processes of forming the protective potential of the pipeline is proved. The possibility of improving the performance of electrochemical protection and minimizing the negative effects of alternating current by optimizing the spectrum of the output signal is proposed. Practical significance. The obtained results can be used to develop new algorithms for controlling cathodic protection stations for underground steel pipelines, which reduces energy costs and increase reliability. The proposed methods can be integrated into modern cathodic stations and taken into account when designing new pipeline protection systems.