VSE™ Anode (Vaulted Seawater Envelope)
Impressed-current cathodic-protection anode for shallow water

The VSE buries itself below the seabed to protect assets in shallow water.

The VSE (Vaulted Seawater Envelope) is an impressed-current anode designed to overcome the problems of shallow-water cathodic protection. Normally, in shallow water where tides come and go and water levels rise and fall constantly, anodes cannot properly polarize a structure to protect it against corrosion. In the process of self-burying, the VSE creates a small pocket of water inside the anode frame. This undisturbed electrolyte allows the impressed-current anodes to deliver consistent cathodic-protection current through the mud on the sea floor even if the tide goes completely out.

 

CP designed for wind turbines

Environmentally safe and electrically efficient, impressed-current cathodic protection is an elegant solution for offshore wind turbines. The VSE was designed in response to a commission from GE Wind in 2004 to retrofit failing corrosion-prevention measures on offshore wind farms near the coast of Ireland. Leveraging our extensive experience in the cathodic protection of large oil and gas offshore structures, Deepwater's cathodic protection engineers were able to provide a reliable, cost-effective design for use in this new market.

 

Ideal for many shallow-water assets

The VSE buries itself in a matter of weeks (see picture at left), allowing the MMO impressed-current anodes to provide reliable long-term cathodic protection to subsea and underground metal nearby. This makes it a useful cathodic-protection system tool suitable for many other applications in addition to wind farms. As long as a power source is available, VSE anodes can protect shallow-water structures, inshore structures, docks, wharves, piers, jetties and even some offshore pipelines.

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Applications

VSEimpressed current anode system for offshore wind farms VSE anode shown on bottom, beginning to self-bury The scouring fronds help coax the mud over the VSE The double armored heavy-duty power cable running anlong the sea floor The I-tube guarding the power cable up through the splash zone Turbine operating off the coast of Ireland, with VSE installed 
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Key design points

Create your own conditions

Impressed-current electrodes operate most efficiently and reliably when surrounded by seawater. If they become silted, they cannot operate as well and may suffer a localized failure. After it becomes buried, the VSE system provides a filtered seawater envelope below the mud-line (a sort-of self-enclosed chamber of seawater), allowing the MMO (mixed-metal oxide) anodes to operate at maximum efficiency.

Easy to install

Because the anodes in the internal chamber are so efficient, the VSE anode assembly can be quite compact and still provide the required low ground resistance. It ships easily, stacking on a truck and then onto the support vessel.