What defines the efficiency of a cathodic protection anode?

The efficiency of a cathodic protection anode is fundamentally defined by the percentage of anode material consumed. This is crucial because the effectiveness of the anode is directly linked to its ability to provide sufficient current over time to protect the structures from corrosion. When an anode is consumed, it means that the materials are actively providing protection to the cathodic system, and the rate of consumption can give insights into how efficiently the anodes are operating.

Understanding the percentage of material consumed helps determine the lifespan and ongoing effectiveness of the anode. A higher consumption percentage indicates that the anode is being effectively used for its intended purpose, which is to mitigate corrosion by providing a negative charge to the metal structures it is protecting.

In contrast, while the amount of current generated, time until replacement, and ability to maintain voltage levels are related factors, they do not directly define the efficiency of the anode itself as explicitly as the percentage of anode material consumed does. These other factors may influence or reflect the performance of the cathodic protection system but do not encapsulate the efficiency in the same clear and quantifiable way.