It is probably not a correct assumption that the electrode needs to be
separated from the tank except at one point. Outboard boat engines have
blocks of zinc bolted tightly to the lower units to control
deterioration of the aluminum parts. The sacrificial anode does not have
to be separated from what it is protecting, but just connected to it. I
believe that having the anode totally submerged would be helpful, but
all that does is increase the surface area of the anode in contact with
the electrolyte. Any contact will be better than none.
I also agree that there should be a wire run from the anode to the tank
to be sure that there is an electrical path. That anode rod will
deteriorate and corrode over time, which will break the electrical
connection to the tank.
Peace,
Pat
Thusly spake Arvid Jedlicka:
>> The typical method for hanging an anode in a radiator is to make a thin
>> sheet of brass that fits the filler neck, under the cap. Then hang
>> the anode by some braided wire into the coolant.
>>
>
> This and the other water heater descriptions may be the salient point - the
>electrode is totally emersed in the electrolyte and is
> separated from the tank by the electrolyte except at the one point - the top
>of the tank. Therefore the current flows from the
> electrode thru the electrolyte to the tank then back to the electrode at the
>single connection. A really spiffy battery.
>
> By simply laying the electrode in the bottom of the air tank the electrolyte
>separation of the electrode and the tank would seem to
> be severly compromised - you would simply have a damp piece of electrode
>lying in the bottom of the tank. Yes, we could then begin
> thinking about it as as millions of very small electrode - electrolyte - tank
>connection - batteries ... and are they in series or
> in parallel and ... My head is starting to hurt trying to work out where the
>current would flow.
>
> Arvid
>
--
Pat Horne, Owner, Horne Systems
(512) 797-7501 Voice 5026 FM 2001
Pat@HorneSystemsTx.com Lockhart, TX 78644-4443
www.hornesystemstx.com
-- We support Habitat for Humanity - a hand UP, not a hand OUT --
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