Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anode - Power Plant Application

Aluminum Alloy Sacrificial Anode - Power Plant Applications

Aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes are primarily used in power plants to protect equipment such as heat exchangers and pipelines from corrosion. These anodes protect the connected metal structures through their own corrosion (sacrificial anode effect). Specific application scenarios include:

1. Heat Exchangers: Aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes can be installed near heat exchangers to protect the shell and internal pipelines via an electrochemical protection system, preventing performance degradation and equipment damage due to corrosion‌12.
2. Pipelines: In the circulating water systems of power plants, aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes protect pipelines from corrosion, ensuring long-term stable operation of the system‌12.

Working Principle

The working principle of aluminum alloy sacrificial anodes is based on an electrochemical protection system. In an electrolyte environment (such as an aqueous solution), the aluminum alloy anode and the protected metal (such as steel) form a galvanic cell. Aluminum has a more negative electrode potential than the protected metal, so in the galvanic cell, aluminum acts as the anode, loses electrons, and is oxidized, while the protected metal acts as the cathode, where reduction reactions occur on its surface, thereby inhibiting the corrosion of the protected metal‌1.

Advantages

1. Excellent Electrochemical Performance: Aluminum alloy anodes have a sufficiently negative electrode potential, providing effective cathodic protection for the protected metal‌1.
2. Lightweight: Compared to other sacrificial anode materials (such as zinc and magnesium), aluminum alloy has a lower density, making it particularly suitable for applications where weight is a concern during installation and use‌1.
3. Cost-Effective: Aluminum is a relatively abundant metal resource with low production costs. Its consumption rate during operation is reasonable, offering high cost-effectiveness‌