Cathodic protection device for use in an impressed current cathodic protection system

Abstract

A cathodic protection device for use in an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system for an offshore structure includes a spacer tube, a flange, and a tubular anode. A tubular anode axis coincides with a spacer tube axis of the spacer tube, and the anode radius is at most 1.35 times the spacer tube radius. The tubular anode may be provided in an anode housing that is mounted to the spacer tube, the housing radius is at most 1.35 times the spacer tube radius. Thus, a cathodic protection device has a linear configuration to enable a flexible object to slide along the spacer tube, from the spacer tube onto, over and off the anode or anode housing, without getting stuck.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A cathodic protection device for use in an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system for providing an offshore structure, for example a wind turbine foundation, with cathodic protection, the cathodic protection device comprising:
 a spacer tube, the spacer tube having an outward facing spacer tube surface that extends along a spacer tube axis between a foot end and a head end of the spacer tube, the spacer tube having a spacer tube radius that extends between the spacer tube axis and the spacer tube surface;   a flange, the flange having a mounting surface for mounting the cathodic protection device against a mounting surface of a mount of the offshore structure, wherein the flange is connected with the spacer tube at the foot end thereof,   a tubular anode, the tubular anode having an outward facing anode surface that extends along an anode axis between a foot end and a head end of the tubular anode, the tubular anode having an anode radius that extends between the anode axis and the anode surface;   wherein the tubular anode is mounted to the spacer tube at the head end thereof, with the tubular anode axis coinciding with the spacer tube axis of the spacer tube, and wherein the anode radius is at most 1.35 times the spacer tube radius, such that a flexible object can slide along the spacer tube, from the foot end to the head end, and from the spacer tube onto, over and off the anode, and   wherein the tubular anode is received in an anode housing, the anode housing comprising an anode cover, which anode cover has an outward facing guide surface that extends parallel to the anode surface, for guiding an object over the anode surface, the anode housing having a housing radius that extends between the anode axis and the guide surface, and wherein the housing radius is at most 1.35 times the spacer tube radius.   
     
     
         17 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the anode cover is a mesh 
     
     
         18 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the anode cover comprises one or more guide rails. 
     
     
         19 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the anode housing further comprises a base at a foot end of the housing, and a top at a head end of the housing, wherein the cover extends between the base and the top, and wherein the base of the anode housing and the top of the anode housing each have an outward facing surface, and wherein the outward facing surfaces of the base and the top are flush with the guide surface of the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 19 , wherein the anode housing is mounted with the base over the head end of the spacer tube, 
     
     
         21 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the tubular anode comprises a first anode element, and wherein the first anode element is semi cylindrical, 
     
     
         22 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 21 , wherein the first anode element extends over an arc of about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         23 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 21 , wherein, when the cathodic protection device is mounted on the offshore structure, the first anode element faces downwards, i.e. is provided at a side of the cathodic protection device that faces a sea floor when the cathodic protection device is mounted on the offshore structure. 
     
     
         24 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 21 , wherein the tubular anode comprises a second anode element, and wherein the second anode element is semi cylindrical, and wherein the first anode element and the second anode element each extend over an arc of about 180 degrees, and wherein, when the cathodic protection device is mounted on the offshore structure, the second anode element faces upwards, i.e. is provided at a side of the cathodic protection device that faces away from the sea floor when the cathodic protection device is mounted on the offshore structure. 
     
     
         25 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the tubular anode is a first tubular anode and the cathodic protection device is provided with a second tubular anode, similar to the first tubular anode, and wherein the first and the second anode are mounted coaxial in the anode housing. 
     
     
         26 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the spacer tube is made of a fibre reinforced synthetic material. 
     
     
         27 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the flange is connected with the spacer tube with the mounting surface of the flange extending at an angle in the range of 1-8 degrees to the spacer tube axis of the spacer tube, to enable the cathodic protection device to be mounted to the offshore structure at an angle to the horizontal. 
     
     
         28 . The cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , wherein the cathodic protection device further comprises a reference cell and a reference cell support bracket, and wherein the reference support bracket is mounted to the flange or is to be mounted between the flange and the mount of the offshore structure. 
     
     
         29 . An offshore structure, wherein the offshore structure is provided with one or more cathodic protection devices according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         30 . The offshore structure according to  claim 29 , wherein the offshore structure is a transition piece for supporting a wind turbine. 
     
     
         31 . The offshore structure according to  claim 29 , wherein the one or more cathodic protection devices are attached with their mounting surfaces to mounts provided on the offshore structure, and with the spacer tube axis and the anode axis extending at an angle to the horizontal, such that the cathodic protection devices points downwards, to thus promote sliding of objects along the spacer tube and the tubular anode, off the cathodic protection device. 
     
     
         32 . An Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system comprising one or more cathodic protection devices according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         33 . A method for providing an offshore construction with cathodic protection using a cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         34 . A method for manufacturing a cathodic protection device according to  claim 16 , the method comprising:
 providing a spacer tube, the spacer tube having an end wall at a head end;   guiding one or more wires through the spacer tube and through one or more openings in the end wall of the spacer tube and sealing the wires in the one or more openings;   mounting one or more anode elements in an anode housing;   mounting the anode housing on the head end of the spacer tube, such that a connector chamber is created at the head end of the spacer tube;   connecting the one or more wires with the one or more anode elements; and   filling the connector chamber with a curing resin material to seal the connections between the wires and the anode elements and preferably to fix the anode housing relative to the spacer tube.   
     
     
         35 . A cathodic protection device for use in an Impressed Current Cathodic Protection system for providing an offshore structure, for example a wind turbine foundation, with cathodic protection, the cathodic protection device comprising:
 a spacer tube, the spacer tube having an outward facing spacer tube surface that extends along a spacer tube axis between a foot end and a head end of the spacer tube, the spacer tube having a spacer tube radius that extends between the spacer tube axis and the spacer tube surface;   a flange, the flange having a mounting surface for mounting the cathodic protection device against a mounting surface of a mount of the offshore structure, wherein the flange is connected with the spacer tube at the foot end thereof,   a tubular anode, the tubular anode having an outward facing anode surface that extends along an anode axis between a foot end and a head end of the tubular anode, the tubular anode having an anode radius that extends between the anode axis and the anode surface;   wherein the tubular anode is mounted to the spacer tube at the head end thereof, with the tubular anode axis coinciding with the spacer tube axis of the spacer tube, and wherein the anode radius is at most 1.35 times the spacer tube radius, such that a flexible object can slide along the spacer tube, from the foot end to the head end, and from the spacer tube onto, over and off the anode, and   wherein the tubular anode is a first tubular anode and the cathodic protection device is provided with a second tubular anode, similar to the first tubular anode, and wherein the second tubular anode is mounted coaxial with the first tubular anode on the spacer tube, or wherein the first and the second anode are mounted coaxial in an anode housing.