The distance between the groundbed and protected structure should be considered during the
design of an impressed current cathodic protection system. This distance is determined using
the ratio between the potential change in the earth due to the groundbed (buried electrodes)
and the groundbed potential to remote earth. Currently the equations used to calculate the
potential change in the earth due to buried electrodes are for single vertical or horizontal
electrodes only. This paper presents new equations for the determination of potential changes
in the earth due to the groundbed. Unlike the currently used equations, the developed
equations work for groundbeds with any number of anodes, either vertical or horizontal, and
work for groundbeds with varied anode spacing. These equations provide a method to
calculate the groundbed’s area of influence, aiding in the determination of optimum groundbed
location. The equations also apply to any metallic structure in an electrolyte that can be
affected by direct current flow.
Keywords: anodes to remote earth potentials, cathodic protection design, stray current, direct
current interference, anodes area of influence