OPTIMAL DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWERED CATHODIC PROTECTION FOR UNDERGROUND PIPELINES IN LIBYA

Abstract

In Libya, pipelines are being used as means of transferring hydrocarbon from wellheads to 
export sea ports, refineries, storage tanks, steel factory and power plants. Steel pipeline is widely used 
because it is of the safest means of transporting hydrocarbon and other oil products as well as its cost 
effective. However, one of the challenges facing oil and gas sector is corrosion on infrastructure facilities 
and processing units. Cathodic-Protection (CP) is an electrical method used to protect metallic body in 
contact with the earth from corrosion. A photovoltaic (PV) provides a reliable solution for powering 
remote CP stations, enabling the placing of CP units in any location along the underground pipeline, thus 
ensuring optimal current distribution for the exact protection requirements. In this paper the sizing of the 
system is determined based on the electrical power needed for the catholic protection, characteristics of the 
used PV module and the meteorological data of the installation site. Math/Lab Simulink and PvsystV6.43 
software’s are used as tools for optimal design, sizing and simulation of the PV powered cathodic protection 
system components. In addition to that estimation of system cost was investigated and compared with the 
conventional system. The results show that using solar energy powered cathodic protection system for 
underground pipelines is practical and very beneficial besides being economical, especially considering 
the rapid decreasing in the prices of PV systems components and the increasing of its efficiencies and 
reliability.