Optimized Joint Management of Electric Fields and Corrosion on a Naval Platform

Abstract

The electric and corrosion related magnetic signatures generated by ship borne impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system might be significant and the threats include underwater weapons and underwater reconnaissance systems for surface ships and submarines. Underwater electric sensors represent an effective means in detection, classification and localization of underwater target, especially in littoral water environment. To achieve an electric signature stealth naval platform, techniques such as computer simulation, design optimization and physical scale modelling are the useful tools in solving the combined optimization problem with complex ship structures. This paper proposes an approach to study the joint problem of minimizing the underwater electric field of a naval platform as well as maintaining health corrosion protection ability. To realize this joint requirement, we propose a specified multi-zone anodes impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system. In this paper, we use physical scale modelling and numerical simulation to study the electric fields and corrosion potentials. Approximations to system parameters such as numbers, locations and electric current amplitudes of the anodes, are achieved via an inverse approaches to minimize underwater electric field and to improve corrosion protection potential as well. Simulation and scale model measurement results show the potential of the proposed method in achieving this joint requirement.