A Study on the Modelling Method of Underwater Electric Field Signature due to Ship's Corrosion

선체 부식에 의한 수중 전기장 신호 특성 모델링 기법 연구

The galvanic corrosion of a vessel, or systems fitted to minimize the ship's corrosion such as ICCP(Impressed Current Cathodic Protection) system and sacrificial anodes, can lead to significant electrical current flow in the sea. The presence of vessel's current sources associated with corrosion will give rise to detectable electric field surrounding the vessel and can put it at risk from mine threats. For this reason, it is necessary to design corrosion protection systems so that they don't only prevent a hull corrosion but also minimize the electric field signature. In this paper, we describe theoretical backgrounds of underwater electric field signature due to corrosion and corrosion protection system on naval vessels and analysis results of the electric field according to ICCP anode arrangement.