Experiment research of dynamic stray current interference on buried gas pipeline from urban rail transit

• We summarized testing methods and determination standards of stray current corrosion on buried gas pipeline in china.
• A stray current monitoring system has been put forward based on virtual instrument.
• Pipe-to-soil potential, potential gradient of soil, current within pipeline of the target gas pipeline were measured.
• Protective measures for buried gas pipeline against stray current from rail transit were introduced.

Stray current corrosion (SCC) is the most severe form of electrochemical corrosion to buried metallic structure. With the development of rail transportation and gas industry, the SCC of buried gas pipelines is becoming more serious in china. In this paper, principle and characteristic of Stray Current (SC) resulting from rail transit system were introduced. Presently available SC testing methods, equipment, and determination standards in china were summarized. For an underground gas pipeline located in the neighboring area and parallel to the rail transit in Shanghai, pipe-to-soil potential, potential gradient of soil, current within pipeline were measured during different operation time of rail transit with a self-made SC monitoring system based upon virtual instrument. Result shows that pipe-to-soil potential fluctuation of the tested gas pipeline is 200 mV, current within pipeline and potential gradient of soil is 100 mA, and 62 mV/m respectively, which is consistent with the operation of rail transit, serious corrosion of the buried gas pipeline may occur. Through theoretical Analysis, several protective measures were introduced.