Analysis of the cause of abnormal faults in the potentiostat at Xiaogan Station of the West-East Gas Pipeline

To address weather-related operational faults of the HPS-1D potentiostat at Xiaogan Station of the West-East Gas Pipeline and ensure stable cathodic protection system performance, a diagnostic approach prioritizing equipment inspection followed by line checks, along with a three-level troubleshooting plan, was implemented. Using self-inspection, resistance measurements, temporary cable tests, and tools such as the RD8200, multimeters, and DM3, the fault was traced to the anode cable. The research results indicated that: ①The damage to the insulation layer at S3 from prior construction caused electrochemical corrosion and wire breakage. ②Soil moisture variations due to weather altered resistance at the breakage point, affecting fault status. ③The temporary reconnection at S3 restored normal equipment output. This study elucidates the impact of magnetic field interference at cable right-angle bends on measurement data and the role of soil moisture changes on fault behavior, offering valuable technical guidance for troubleshooting cable faults in similar cathodic protection systems.