Long-lasting buried saturated long-life reference electrode with filling packet

1. Zinc Reference Electrode

Typically made of high-purity zinc, it offers excellent stability and conductivity. In soil and freshwater environments, the zinc reference electrode maintains a relatively stable potential, providing accurate reference potential over extended periods. With a long service life, it is suitable for long-term monitoring of corrosion conditions in underground pipelines, hydraulic structures, and more.

2. Copper/Copper Sulfate Reference Electrode (CSE)

Composed of a copper rod and copper sulfate solution, it is a widely used long-lasting reference electrode. Its potential is stable and highly accurate, performing well in neutral and alkaline soils.

For example, in the cathodic protection systems of urban gas pipelines, it monitors the protective potential of pipelines. Due to its stable performance, it provides a reliable reference basis for long-term pipeline protection.

3. Silver/Silver Chloride Reference Electrode (Ag/AgCl)

It offers high precision and stability, performing exceptionally well in environments containing chloride ions, such as seawater. Its electrode potential is less affected by temperature and remains stable over a wide temperature range.

For instance, in marine engineering, such as the anti-corrosion monitoring of steel structures on offshore oil platforms, the silver/silver chloride reference electrode is widely used. It provides a stable reference potential over the long term, delivering accurate control signals for the platform's cathodic protection system.

Long-Lasting Structural Composition:

Copper Electrode: Typically made of copper with a purity of no less than 99.7%, offering excellent conductivity and chemical stability.

Saturated Copper Sulfate Solution: Serves as the electrolyte, providing a medium for ion conduction and ensuring smooth electrode reactions.

Permeable Membrane: Made of highly permeable microporous materials, such as ceramics, allowing ions to pass while preventing solution leakage and maintaining ion exchange balance between the electrode's interior and the external environment.

Insulating Shell: Protects the electrode and prevents external interference. Typically made of pressure-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials like PVC or PPR.

Working Principle: Based on the reversible chemical reaction between copper and copper sulfate to generate a stable potential as a reference. When the electrode is inserted into the solution to be measured, copper ions undergo redox reactions on the electrode surface, exchanging with ions in the solution to form a dynamic equilibrium, thereby producing stable potential readings.

Features and Advantages:

Stable Potential: The permeation of copper sulfate and ion exchange ensure potential stability. Potential stability is typically controlled within ±20mV, and even with polarization currents below 5uA, potential fluctuations remain less than ±30mV.

Long Lifespan: Due to its special design and materials, it has a long service life, lasting for several years at room temperature, even up to 10 years, reducing the need for frequent replacements and lowering usage costs.

Easy Maintenance: Generally requires minimal maintenance. For example, some designs allow for replenishing water by irrigating the buried environment to maintain normal operation. Additionally, the electrode cap and cavity are connected by threads, making it easy to refill the solution, with one refill lasting over a year.

Wide Applicability: Widely used in various electrochemical measurements and cathodic protection systems, including measurements and monitoring in soil media. They can be used to test the polarization potential of structural steel to reflect its corrosion condition, making them essential tools in the field of metal corrosion and protection.

High Measurement Accuracy: Provides a stable potential reference, making electrochemical measurements more accurate. This is particularly important for applications requiring high-precision measurements.

Application Areas:

Environmental Monitoring and Soil Analysis: Connected to measurement devices via cables, long-lasting reference electrodes can monitor changes in ion concentration, pH, redox potential, and other parameters in soil in real time, helping to address issues such as soil pollution, nutrient management, and plant physiology.

Cathodic Protection Systems: In sacrificial anode protection and impressed current cathodic protection systems, long-lasting reference electrodes serve as stable signal sources for automatic control, suitable for cathodic protection projects of buried pipelines and underground metal structures. They can accurately monitor cathodic protection status, ensuring metal facilities are protected from corrosion.

Hard-to-Access Monitoring Locations: Can be buried in locations that require monitoring but are inaccessible, such as the center of large container bottoms, inaccessible areas between underground fuel storage tanks and chemical storage tanks, and pipelines beneath urban roads.

Installation and Maintenance:

Installation: Typically requires drilling holes at selected locations, placing the electrode vertically, and embedding it in concrete media. Before installation, the electrode should be soaked in clean tap water for 8-10 hours for preparation.

Maintenance: During use, avoid impacts with other rigid structures, and regularly inspect and maintain the electrode, such as replenishing water and cleaning surface dirt, to ensure its normal operation.