Cathodic protection apparatus and method

In combination, a storage tank having a metal bottom, compacted electrolytic backfill below the tank bottom and a cathodic protection anode within the backfill below the tank bottom, said anode comprising a generally continuous ribbon that loops back and forth following a generally serpentine path corresponding generally in shape to the tank bottom and defines a plurality of generally parallel major ribbon runs and a plurality of minor ribbon runs joining ends of adjacent major ribbon runs and at least one redundant current path interconnecting a pair of adjacent minor ribbon runs.

A cathodic protection apparatus comprising:

• an anode to be positioned adjacent a surface to be protected, said anode being in the form of a continuous ribbon that loops back and forth following a generally serpentine path and defines a plurality of generally parallel major ribbon runs and a plurality of minor ribbon runs joining ends of adjacent major ribbon runs, said ribbon undergoing twists during the minor ribbon runs;
• and
• a feeding cable network to couple said anode to a source of power.

In combination, a storage tank having a metal bottom, compacted electrolytic backfill below the tank bottom and a cathodic protection anode within the backfill below the tank bottom, said anode comprising a continuous ribbon that loops back and forth following a generally serpentine path corresponding generally in shape to the tank bottom and defines a plurality of generally parallel major ribbon runs and a plurality of minor ribbon runs joining ends of adjacent major ribbon runs, the ribbon undergoing twists during the minor ribbon runs.