Comparison between domestic and foreign cathodic protection standards for the bottom plates of aboveground steel tanks

Storage tank is an important facility in the petroleum industry, so how to prevent tank corrosion and ensure tank safety is a research hotspot.Compared with the design and construction of storage tanks abroad, there are several deficiencies which would impact the safe operation of storage tanks adversely in China, such as potential criteria, potential monitoring, basic materials, electrical insulation, tank edge plate corrosion and seepage control.Therefore, standards and norms shall be unified.In this paper, API 651-2014 Cathodic Protedtion of Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks and EN 16299-2013 Cathodic Protection of External Surfaces of Above Ground Storage Tank Bases in contact with Soil or Foundations were taken as examples.Based on domestic experience of tank design and operation, the main technical differences in the field of tank cathodic protection standards at home and abroad were investigated, and foreign cathodic protection standards for storage tanks worth studying and reference, including the advanced concepts, e.g.the protection potential value at high temperature, the quality of the sand cushion material, the number and location of the tank potential monitoring points, and the recommended practices, e.g.eliminating electric insulation, corrosion prevention of the edge plate at the tank bottom and seepage prevention of the storage tank foundation.The research results can improve cathodic protection level, safety and reliability of storage tanks at home, and provide the rational suggestions on modifying domestic related standards.