Alutek ICCP Hull Protection Systems

General Principles
Alutek is an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system specifically designed to protect aluminium hulls. An essential feature of ICCP systems is that they constantly monitor the electrical potential at the seawater/hull interface and carefully adjust the output to the anodes in relation to this. Therefore, the system is much more effective and reliable than sacrificial anodes where the level of protection is uncertain and uncontrollable.

However, in the protection of aluminium it is necessary to go a stage further and build in features which avoid the risk of 'under' or 'over' protection within a narrow potential band. For this reason, Alutek has additional monitors and sensors to ensure that the correct level of protection is maintained.

System Layout
The Alutek system consists of a control panel and an arrangement of anodes, reference electrodes, controlling electrodes and shield sensors. During installation a di-electric shield is created around the anodes to ensure that the current is spread over the widest possible hull area and prevent localised over protection.
The anodes emit a current which is sufficient to suppress the naturally occurring electro-chemical activity on the wetted surface of the hull. The fine element of control in the system is achieved by the following:-

Monitoring electrodes - measure electrical potential near anodes.

Controlling electrodes - measure electrical potential at 'remote' point on hull.

Shield sensors - measure the condition of the di-electric shield.

Alutek Components
Control Panel - Compact micro-processor controlled unit operating from
230v a.c. electrical supply. Automatically performs self diagnostic tests and displays outcome for alarms, module status, over protection, under protection, electrode, anode and current/voltage status. Dimensions 500mm (height) x 390mm (width) x 210mm (depth).

Anodes - Flush mounted platinised titanium anodes

Monitoring/Controlling Electrodes - Flush mounted silver/silver chloride electrodes.

Shield Sensors - Detect changes in resistance at the coated aluminium/seawater interface.

Additional Options

• Rudder bonding and shaft grounding systems.